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Vinny Faherty is congratulated by Anto Flood and Chris Forrester last night. NPHO/Ryan Byrne
title race

Barstooler: 5 talking points from last weekend’s League of Ireland action

Sligo edged closer to being crowned Premier Division champions after the most recent set of results.

Pat’s and Drogheda cancel each other out

SLIGO’S TWO MAIN contenders for the title met at Hunky Dorys Park on Friday night but neither Drogheda nor St Patrick’s Athletic could break the deadlock meaning they lost further ground on the division’s leading side. A cautious approach was taken by both Liam Buckley and Mick Cooke and, disappointingly for the neutrals, chances were few and far between.

It was a big ask to make up the gap even before that game and Ian Baraclough’s side showed the following night that they have no intention of slipping up. Sligo put Derry away with a 4-1 win and despite having to play Cork, Pat’s Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers in the final four fixtures, an eight-point advantage will see them take the title barring an unimaginable meltdown.

Hat-trick for Faherty

Last night, the second and third-placed sides got back to winning ways – the Saints defeated UCD 5-0 while Drogheda beat Shels 2-1. Striker Vinny Faherty, who recently returned to Inchicore after a spell in Australia, bagged himself a second-half hat-trick for the hosts. Watch his third goal below:

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Rovers plunder Dundalk, get a much-needed win

After defeat in the EA Sports Cup final was added to by a 2-1 loss to St Pat’s at Richmond Park, Brian Laws recorded his first win in charge of Shamrock Rovers in style on Friday night. The Hoops were in complete control from start to finish and after going 3-0 up in the first half, added a four more in the second 45.

While they did play good football at times, the visitors had an absolute horror show at the back and were guilty of some shocking defending.

The 7-0 win should give last season’s champions a real confidence boost for the final couple of weeks but, as much as they would like to spoil Sligo’s party on the final day, their rivals are likely to be home and dry before that trip to the Showgrounds comes around.

Scully snatches late point for ten-man Bohs

Bohemians got off to a terrible start at the Belfield Bowl when defender Kevin Feely was given his marching orders for chopping down Danny Ledwith on five minutes. To make matters worse, the Students winger dusted himself off to curl the resulting free-kick into the top corner.

The home team added a second shortly afterwards and the Gypsies seemed certain to be heading back across the Liffey empty-handed. Incredibly however, former Malahide United striker Dave Scully rescued a point for Bohs with two goals in added time. That draw puts them up to sixth in the table and Aaron Callaghan has done an admirable job with limited resources this year.

And finally…

Two of the Airtricity League’s longest-serving referees are set to hang up their whistles at the end of the season. Cork’s Anthony Buttimer has been officiated in domestic and European competitions during his distinguished career. He isn’t the most popular among all LOI fans, however, and is remembered for a number of incidents regarding colour clashes down the years.

57-year-old Hancock, meanwhile, retires after 17 years as a man in black.

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