LOI round-up:Four goals for striker Jason Byrne ensured Bohemians maintained a tight grip on top spot in the League of Ireland's Premier Division this evening, but Cork City and Derry City stayed in touch with wins of their own. The defending champions were in ruthless form against Dundalk at Dalymount Park, where their front pairing of Glen Crowe and Byrne ran the visitors ragged.

Crowe got them off the mark after half an hour when Byrne latched on to a loose ball before finding his strike partner who was left with a simple tap in at the back post.

Byrne got his first from the spot in the 73rd minute, added another 10 minutes later and then got on the end of Neale Fenn’s clip over the defence to finish neatly for a hat-trick.

After Dundalk failed to clear another Fenn delivery Byrne snatched his fourth in injury time.

Marc Farren also had his scoring boots on for Derry and bagged a hat-trick away to Drogheda to keep the Canystripes third in the table.

Cork’s win over Sligo Rovers was not as emphatic, but Fahrudin Kaduzovic’s 68th minute goal kept them second and three points off the Gypsies.

At Terryland Park, St Patrick’s Athletic slumped to their fifth defeat in six games, the second of the season for manager Jeff Kenna against his old club.

Garry Breen gave Galway United the lead after just five minutes before Mark Quigley pulled on back from the spot just after half an hour.

James O’Shea struck shortly after the break to move United level on points with fourth-place Shamrock Rovers, after Bray Wanderers beat the Hoops 1-0 in Tallaght, thanks to a Dane Massey goal.