A FIRST HALF goal from UCD’s Graham Rusk handed Premier Division leaders Sligo Rovers their first defeat of the season at the Belfield Bowl tonight.
The striker got on the end of a Daniel Ledwith cross on the half-hour mark to steer a header past Gary Rogers in the Bit O’Red goal.
Ian Baraclough’s side, who had picked up 30 points from a possible 36 before this evening’s trip to Dublin, pushed for an equaliser during the latter stages of the game couldn’t convert the couple of half-chances they did produce.
There was another upset over at Richmond Park as lowly Dundalk earned a 2-1 victory over St Patrick’s Athletic.
Substitute Mark Griffin will take the plaudits after finding the back of the net twice, in the 78th and 92nd minute, from sweetly-struck free-kicks.
The Saints had gone ahead shortly before half-time through what is becoming an increasingly influential combination of Chris Forrester and Christy Fagan, the latter heading home a corner from the former.
Shamrock Rovers, seemingly back on track after Friday night’s 3-1 win over Drogheda United, c0uld only manage a scoreless draw away to basement club Monaghan United.
Gary Twigg, Killian Brennan and Daryl Kavanagh, on for Billy Dennehy in the second half, all came close to opening the scoring but Roddy Collins’ men held out for a valuable point.
At Hunky Dorys Park, Fabio O’Brien scored his second goal in three days for Drogheda United but Cork City’s Daryl Horgan cancelled it out on 56 minutes.
Derry City came from behind to beat Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell – Stephen McLaughlin grabbing a couple and Ryan McBride was on hand with the winner.
A Dublin derby between Shelbourne and Bohemians ended in a 2-1 win to the Gypsies, meanwhile. Glen Cronin (penalty), Peter McMahon and Ryan McEvoy were the scorers at Tolka Park.
Results:
Derry City 3-2 Bray Wanderers
Drogheda United 1-1 Cork City
St Patrick’s Athletic 1-2 Dundalk
UCD 1-0 Sligo Rovers
Monaghan United 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Shelbourne 1-2 Bohemians
