LOI review:Defending League of Ireland Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers got the new campaign off to a bright start with a 3-1 home win over Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium.
Michael O’Neill’s men fell behind to 10-man Dundalk, despite goalkeeper Peter Cherrie’s dismissal in the 23rd minute.
The visitors took the lead a minute before the break when Dan Murray was caught in possession by Jason Byrne and took the striker down.
The former Bohs hitman gave Dundalk the lead from the spot but Rovers hit back immediately through Gary McCabe’s half-volley.
After the restart the game was all but wrapped up thanks to a brace from Gary Twigg, who headed his first past Paul Murphy in the 50th minute and rounded the substitute goalkeeper to calmly finish six minutes later.
The striker, who could have had a hat-trick but saw his effort cleared off the line by Simon Madden, admitted the sending off was key to the homeside.
"We knew they were going to come here and press us high, and they never did anything we didn't expect," the man of the match told RTE. "They're a good side.
“We got a wee bit of luck with them getting a man sent off and we capitalised in the second half.”
At the Carlisle Grounds, Bohs also recovered after falling behind to a penalty in the 20th minute.
Jake Kelly scored from the spot for Bray but Christy Fagan’s spot-kick restored parity 11 minutes later and Kilian Brennan’s scorching free-kick gave Bohs the lead seven minutes before the break.
Anto Flood secured the points in the 65th minute when he finished a sweeping counter-attack involving Fagan and Stephen Traynor.
At Terryland Park, St Patrick’s Athletic ran out 3-0 winners over Galway United thanks to second half goals from Anto Murphy, Evan McMillan and Derek Pender.
Cillian Morrison’s 80th minute strike secured a 1-0 win for UCD at Drogheda United, while Sligo Rovers left it even later when Aaron Greene’s 89th minute winner saw them take home all three points from the Brandywell.
