Galway United climbed out of the relegation places with a 4-1 win over Drogheda United, who remain stuck to the foot of the table, thanks to a hat-trick from Gavan Holohan.
The midfielder scored twice in the space of five first-half minutes for Shane Keegan’s team before killing off a brief Drogheda fightback when completing his hat-trick ten minutes from time. Stephen Elliott had given the visitors some hope with a 75th-minute header, but Lee Grace put the result beyond any doubt with a neat finish in the final seconds.
It is the first time that Galway have won consecutive games all season, having defeated Limerick 3-2 at home two weeks ago.
Barry McNamee’s goal six minutes before half-time was enough for Derry City to beat Bohemians 1-0 at Dalymount Park. The visitors were hanging on towards the end, though, having been reduced to ten men when Aaron Barry was sent off in the 84th minute.
Cork City have confirmed that John Kavanagh will spend the remainder of the season on loan at Cobh Ramblers. The right back has struggled for game time with John Caulfield’s runaway league leaders, having been blighted by injuries in the past two seasons. “We are hoping he can go there and play to get his confidence and his match fitness back, and put himself back in contention here for next season,” Caulfield said.
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Second-placed Dundalk, who exited the Champions League in the second qualifying round following an extra-time defeat to Rosenberg, of Norway, on Wednesday, will seek to keep their slender hopes of retaining their title alive with a win against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park tomorrow.
Dundalk will be without the suspended Chris Shields, while Patrick McEleney, who was last week named the SWAI player of the month, is struggling to shake off a groin injury.
• Waterford continue to set the pace in the First Division, after beating Cobh 4-0 in a Munster derby to move nine points clear at the top. That result meant University College Dublin climbed above Ramblers into second thanks to a 4-0 victory at home to Athlone Town. Georgie Kelly scored the students’ opening three goals. Cabinteely edged Shelbourne 1-0 at home, while Longford Town won 2-1 away to Wexford.