Sligo Rovers 1 Dundalk 1
David McMillan came off the bench to rescue a point for title-chasing Dundalk against his former side at the Showgrounds.
McMillan came off the bench shortly after the hour-mark and headed home the leveller with five minutes left to claim what could prove a valuable point for Stephen Kenny’s side, against a Rovers team that ended with ten after the late sending-off of Alan Keane for a second bookable offence.
The opener came from the spot on 31 minutes, as Danny North – back in the team after serving a two-game ban – coolly stroked the ball home after Eamon Zayed had been tripped by Andy Boyle.
It was no more than the hosts deserved, as they looked a constant threat, with boss John Coleman basically starting with a four-man strike-force.
Centre-back Evan McMillan was the main target man up top, with Zayed, North and the in-form Seanie Maguire all playing off him.
The second half was tense as the crowd of 2,159 made their voices heard. Rovers saw midfielders David Cawley and Paul O’Conor booked early on, and Alan Keane also saw yellow soon after for a foul on Richie Towell.
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny introduced McMillan, Ruaidhri Higgins and Donal McDermott for the final 20 minutes to try and inject some spark into their attack.
And it reaped rewards with five minutes left as Dane Massey hammered a cross in from the left and McMillan superbly headed home from close range.
There was almost eight minutes of extra-time played at the end, but neither side managed to create a winner.
Cork City 1 Bray Wanderers 1
Cork City failed to take advantage of Dundalk's draw as they were held by 10-man Bray Wanderers at Turner's Cross .
Having gone ahead through Gareth McDonagh in the 14th minute, Bray frustrated their hosts and even though right-back Michael Barker was red-carded just after the half-hour, they remained resolute.
While Garry Buckley did equalise for City within five minutes of the start of the second half, they could not find a winner, despite pressing for almost the entirety of the second period.
McDonagh’s goal caught them cold after they had had the better of the early exchanges. After Ismahil Akindade was allowed to saunter in from the right unimpeded, a half-tackle saw the ball fall to the centre-forward, who was able to place his shot beyond Mark McNulty.
City did fashion a few chances of their own after that, with Bray goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness saving well from Buckley and Gearóid Morrissey. While Barker’s dismissal for a wild lunge on John Dunleavy left Bray with a tougher task, they remained ahead at half-time.
Cork brought Danny Morrissey on as they went more attacking in the second half and immediately the change reaped dividends as Buckley profited from Mark O’Sullivan’s lay-off after Billy Dennehy’s low cross, finishing well.
Unfortunately for them, that was as good as it got. O'Sullivan had a great effort which drew a super save from McGuinness and Billy Dennehy and Buckley also went close. Bray sub Philip Hughes almost punished Cork when Akinade played him in after a poor McNulty clearance, but Dunleavy was able to clear off the line. Danny Morrissey and Buckley somehow missed late chances for City, who remain four off the top.
St Patrick's Athletic 0 Limeric FC 1
Limerick produced a disciplined defensive effort at Richmond Park to bring St Patrick's Athletic's run of home wins to a halt.
Striker Rory Gaffney’s clinical finish on 51 minutes was enough for Martin Russell’s side against the out-of-sorts champions.
Limerick appeared nervous at the back early on against a side that had scored 29 goals in nine successive home league wins and Sam Oji’s desperate last-minute tackle took the ball off the toe of Christy Fagan before the Saints’ steady monopoly of possession produced three chances in as many minutes.
And it was former Pat’s keeper Barry Ryan who denied the home side each time, the pick of the saves a full-stretch dive to brilliantly tip Fagan’s header from Conan Byrne’s cross over the bar.
The strong-running Gaffney was Limerick’s principle threat but he couldn’t put his angled effort beyond the reach of Brendan Clarke who saved low down.
Six minutes after the break, however, Gaffney got the reward his hard work and incessant movement deserved. Kieran Dijiali cut in from the left and when the ball broke to the striker off Derek Foran he drove his effort past Clarke from 20 yards.
Limerick hadn’t lost in four league trips to Dublin this season and were visibly buoyed by the goal, Ger O’Brien having to scramble to deflect another Gaffney attempt over.
The Saints’ responded by firing a series of crosses into the opposition box but that was out of character for a side with such a reputation for flair this season and Ryan wasn’t tested by two late Kenny Browne headers as Limerick closed out the game.
Bohemians P Shamrock Rovers P
Approximately 45 minutes before kick-off was due to take place on Monday, the clash between arch Dublin rivals Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park was postponed.
On an evening when the return of recently-appointed Hoops boss Pat Fenlon to his old stomping was set to be the main focus, match referee Tomas Connolly deemed the Phibsboro pitch to be unplayable just as supporters of both teams were getting ready to enter the grounds.
With repair work leaving one of the penalty spots in less than pristine condition, Dublin official Connolly felt that, with the health and safety of players of paramount importance, he was left with no option but to abandon the proceedings.
Drogheda United 1 Derry City 0
Drogheda United continued their recent upturn in form with a narrow win over Derry City at United Park.
When the sides met at the same venue earlier in the season, Robbie Horgan and Roddy Collins patrolled the respective technical areas, but a lot has changed at both clubs since then.
The first-half was a dour affair which produced few chances. Only Rory Patterson’s 20-yard pile driver - tipped over brilliantly by Drogheda keeper Micheál Schlingermann - threatened to open the scoring. A minute later, Drogs‘ captain Shane Grimes drew a routine save from Gerard Doherty at the other end.
The hosts almost broke the deadlock immediately after the break, when Grimes got to the by-line and rolled the ball across 6 yard box. Gary O‘Neill looked destined to score, but somehow failed to connect, and the ball ran harmlessly wide. The breakthrough came on 53 minutes. Carl Walshe cut the ball back from the left side, and Cathal Brady‘s side-footed volley beat Doherty at his near post.
Derry's response was disappointingly lacklustre, and Damien Richardson's charges comfortably held on for their second win from his four games in charge to date.
UCD 1 Athlone Town 1
UCD produced a dogged rearguard action to frustrate bottom of the table Athlone at the UCD Bowl. An encouraging start by the visitors counted for nothing as they fell behind on nine minutes. College winger Ayman Ben Mohamed did well to harry Dylan Hayes off the ball, surge forward and set up Conor Cannon to drill home his first goal for the club.
That should have been doubled seven minutes later. College skipper Robbie Benson slalomed through the sluggish Town defence, rounded keeper Ryan Coulter, only to scuff his finish allowing the keeper to gather. Only the brilliance of Conor O’Donnell, the ‘keeper at the other end, kept UCD in front as he made two terrific saves in quick succession in the 26th minute.
Athlone remained well on top into the second half and deservedly levelled on 63 minute. Hayes, Brennan and Mark Hughes combined well down the right for the latter to cross for John Mulroy whose shot from point-blank range was fumbled into the net by O’Donnell.
