Finn Harps moved out of the bottom three in the Premier Division thanks to their 2-0 win away against Limerick FC in Markets Field on Friday evening. Tommy McBride and Danny Morrissey scored their goals. They also had a man sent off which seems to be a regaulr occurence when they play Limerick as Killian Cantwell got his marching orders in first half stoppage time. Rodrigo Tosi missed a penalty for the home side who are now very much dragged into the relegation battle given that they are just three points clear of the drop zone. Harps are now level on points with St. Patrick’s Athletic whose recent run of good form came to an abrupt halt when they were beaten 6-0 in Oriel Park by Dundalk. The sides had been level up until Ian Bermingham was sent off as the first half drew to a close. That led to a penalty which was converted by David McMillan. McMillan scored a second soon after taking his career tally for the club to 50 goals. Sean Gannon, Robbie Benson, Dylan Connolly and Thomas Stewart scored the other goals.
Galway United remain second from bottom despite coming from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Bohemian FC in Dalymount Park. Paddy Kavanagh gave the home side the lead with Padraic Cunningham levelling for the men from the West. Cork City continue to stumble their way to the league title as they suffered their fourth defeat in five game losing 3-1 away against Shamrock Rovers in the Tallaght Stadium. That win takes Shamrock above Derry City and into 3rd place. Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele and Michael O’Connor scored their goals with Gearoid Morrissey pulling one back for Cork.
Even though Waterford FC remain very much in the driving seat in the First Division their lead was cut to five points over the weekend. They were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Shelbourne with second place side Cobh Ramblers winning 1-0 away to Athlone Town. Their are three games left in the league and the last game of the season has Waterford away to Cobh so another draw or defeat for the Blues would really open things up. Elsewhere UCD beat Wexford 1-0 and Longford Town won 2-0 away to Cabinteely.
It was only fitting given that it was an international weekend that there were two big international fixtures involving sides from the SSE Airtricity League as Premier Division clubs Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers became the first sides from the league to compete in the Iron Bru Scottish Challenge Cup. This is the first season of what is hoped to become a regular event with the plan being that 4th and 5th will qualify for the two spots giving clubs more to play for. Bray were up first as they were drawn away to Scottish League Two side Elgin City. They were beaten 2-0 by the hosts with Chris Dodd and Jordan Allen scoring the goals for the home side. Sligo Rovers didn’t fare much better as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Scottish Championship side Falkirk. Nathan Austin and James Craigen scored for the Bairns with Seamus Sharkey scoring in between for the Bit o’Red.