Airtricity League:Shamrock Rovers took full advantage of Sligo's slip-up last night, but had to wait until the 89th minute to nick all three points with a 2-1 over Bray Wanderers. The win moves the defending champions back to the top of the Premier Division, one point ahead of Sligo while Derry City are now five points adrift of the leaders.
Karl Sheppard took just seven minutes to break the deadlock at a windswept Carlisle Grounds, driving home the rebound after Chris Turner's header was touched onto the bar.
Gary Twigg was narrowly off target with his header from a Gary McCabe cross but there were few other chances of note during the first half with both teams struggling to get to grips with the conditions.
Sligo drew level 20 minutes into the second half when Gary Dempsey’s floated free-kick wasn’t dealt with by the Rovers defence and was also left by goalkeeper Richard Brush, the ball finding it’s way into the net untouched.
Rovers threw on Rohan Ricketts for the last 20 minutes, the substitute adding some much-needed urgency to the visitor’s play, while McCabe struck an upright with a long-range volley.
Rovers continued to press and were rewarded right at the death, Sheppard again on hand to meet Ciaran Kilduff’s low cross and head home.
Sligo, meanwhile, will rue a glut of missed opportunities at Richmond Park last night as they were punished when Conor Kenna’s strike on 67 minutes earned the points St Patrick’s Athletic.
Iarfhlaith Davoren, Aaron Greene, Matthew Blinkhorn and Eoin Doyle had all gone close for the visitors but Rovers paid the price when Kenna got on the end of a Stephen Bradley free kick and his header deflected past Brendan Clarke in the Rovers goal.
Earlier in the day, goals from Eamon Zayed and Danny Lafferty moved Derry City right back into the League title race as the Candystripes overcame Dundalk 2-0 at Oriel Park.
Dundalk were on the back foot for most of the first-half and it was the title chasers who opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Zayed headed home at the back post. Lafferty made sure of the points when he nodded home in the 85th minute.
