SHELS FIND HOME COMFORTS AS SAINTS BOUNCE BACK IN STYLE
SHELBOURNE grabbed their first home win of the season with victory over high-flying Sligo Rovers. First-half goals from Jack Moylan and Seán Boyd sealed the three points in Drumcondra. It was man-of-the-match Moylan who broke the deadlock midway through the first half, curling home brilliantly from the edge of the area following some good Reds pressure. The hosts continued to press and deservedly got their second just before the break as Boyd took a leaf out of Moylan’s book and curled home a quality strike of his own from slightly further out. Just as it seemed the game was drifting away from the visitors, they halved the deficit with a fierce Paddy Kirk strike, having beaten two challenges at the edge of the box. Despite the late fightback, Shels hung on for a vital victory. SHELBOURNE FC: Clarke, Wilson, Kane, O’Driscoll, Griffin, Byrne, Lunney (Dervin 64), Coyle, Boyd, Moylan (Carr 89), Farrell. Scorers: Moylan 20, Boyd 43. SLIGO ROVERS: McGinty, Banks (Horgan 79), McCourt, Bolger (Keogh 79), Fitzgerald (Mata 45), Keena (Heaney 79), Byrne (Hamilton 45), McDonnell, Kirk, Cawley, Pijnaker. Scorer: Kirk 64. Referee: Ben Connolly.
DARRYL GERAGHTY
TWO goals in each half ensured Tim Clancy enjoyed his return to Drogehda as St Patrick’s Athletic bounced back from last week’s trouncing by Derry. Darragh Burns’ and Eoin Doyle’s strikes left Pat’s in total control and Drogs rarely looked like getting back into the contest.
Pat’s hit the front on four minutes when Burns headed in Billy King’s leftwing cross at the back post. Doyle notched his fifth of the season when he latched on to Ben McCormack’s through ball before finishing expertly. A flying drone briefly interrupted proceedings in the second half but King fired in on 63 minutes and debutant Kyle Robinson completed the scoring. DROGHEDA UNITED: Long; Poynton (Weir 46), Quinn, Roughan, Massey; Deegan, Heeney (Clarke 46) Brennan (Nugent 76); Grimes (Arong 85), Rooney; Lyons (Williams 26). ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Anang; Curtis, Redmond, Grivosti (Bermingham 70), Breslin; Forrester (McClelland 76), O’Reilly; Burns, McCormack (Robinson 85), King (M Doyle 70); E Doyle (Owolabi 76). Scorers: Burns 4, E Doyle 36, King 63, Robinson 86. Referee: John McLoughlin.
BARRY LANDY
COLM Whelan hit a brace as bottom-of-the-table UCD battled back from two goals down against 10-man Dundalk to earn a fully deserved share of the spoils at the UCD Bowl. Dundalk took the lead on 18 minutes. Although Keith Ward’s delivery was headed away, it dropped for Paul Doyle to drill a deflected shot to the net. Dundalk were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time when defender Andy Boyle saw a straight red card for a lunge at Dara Keane. UCD found themselves further behind on 54 minutes. Daniel Kelly’s pace got him in behind Erick Yoro, who tripped the Dundalk winger. Patrick Hoban sent keeper
Kian Moore the wrong way from the resulting penalty. College hit back on the hour when Whelan sidefooted home Mark Dignam’s pacy cross. Evan Caffrey then won a 76th-minute penalty, which Whelan dispatched. UCD: Moore; Gallagher, Yoro (Ryan, 56), Todd, Osam; Keane (Verdon, ht), Keaney; Kerrigan, Caffrey, Dignam (Nolan, 70); Whelan. Scorers: Whelan (60, 75 pen). DUNDALK: Shepperd; Macari, Gartland, Boyle, Leahy; Doyle (Martin, 90+2), Sloggett; Adams (Bone, h-t), Ward (Benson, h-t), Kelly (Bradley, 73); Hoban (McMillan, 73). Scorers: Doyle (19), Hoban (54 pen). Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).
PAUL BUTTNER