TWO FIRST HALF goals from Christy Fagan saw St Patrick’s Athletic retain their three-point cushion at the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers tonight.
In the first game back from the mid-season break, the Saints hosted an in-form Seagulls side at Richmond Park but were ahead after just 6 minutes – the striker was picked out by Ian Bermingham’s low cross to drill home at the far post.
22 minutes later, the home side doubled their advantage. This time the ball came from the opposite wing as Ger O’Brien picked out Fagan and the forward beat Darren Quigley.
Jason Byrne came close for Bray just before half-time while Quigley denied Forrester in a one-on-one before Liam Buckley’s side saw out the win.
Michael Rafter hit the winner for second-placed Derry City, who handed Bohemians a 2-1 defeat at the Brandywell.
Patrick McElenay had opened the Candystripes’ account on eight minutes but Kevin Devaney offered the Gypsies a lifeline on the stroke of half-time.
Nine minutes after the restart, however, Rafter found what proved to be the decisive goal with a neat turn and finish from a tight angle. The pair face off again on Monday in a league cup quarter-final.
At Tolka Park, Kieran Djilali inspired Sligo Rovers to an away win over lowly Shelbourne.
The close season signing added to Seamus Conneely’s opening goal to give the Bit O’Red a 2-0 victory after a subdued first half.
Gary McCabe scored either side of Sean O’Connor in a 3-0 win for Shamrock Rovers at Hunky Dorys Park.
All three of the goals arrived in the space of a crazy five minutes in the second half – McCabe coming off the bench to head in the first from Stephen Rice before O’Connor found the back of the net with a strike from distance, then wrapping up the game by setting up his team-mate for the brace.
Over at the UCD Bowl, David McMillen continued his fine scoring run by bagging two and handing UCD a vital win over travelling Cork City.
The striker, who has now scored 12 goals this term and is second in the charts behind Rory Patterson, was on target inside the very first minute and added another early in the second half. Defender Hugh Douglas put the icing on the cake with 20 minutes on the clock.
In the First Division, league leaders Longford Town could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Salthill Devon, while chasing pair Athlone and Waterford both won to narrow the gap at the top.
Premier Division results
- Derry 2-1 Bohemians
- Drogheda 0-3 Shamrock Rovers
- St Pat’s 2-0 Bray
- UCD 3-0 Cork
- Shelbourne 0-2 Sligo
First Division
- Satlhill 1-1 Longford
- Waterford 3-0 Finn Harps
- Athlone 3-0 Mervue
