League leaders Shamrock Rovers scored in stoppage time to rescue a point against Bohemians, while elsewhere there were wins for Derry City and Bray Wanderers.
Bohemians 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
A Ronan Finn equaliser for Shamrock Rovers in stoppage time at the end of the second half provided some drama in what was otherwise a dull Dublin derby at Dalymount Park.
Finn headed Conor McCormack’s corner to the net to ensure that the Hoops grabbed a share of the spoils after Bohs youngster Keith Buckley had put the hosts in front after 71 minutes.
Overall, the game between the two big Dublin rivals was a letdown with precious few opportunities throughout. Killian Brennan went close on a couple of occasions for the Gyspies in the first half, while Dean Kelly should have done better than heading the ball clean over the bar with a free header from a corner.
With just under 20 minutes to go Bohs took the lead. Brennan’s corner was headed onto the bar by Aidan Price, and Buckley was on hand to steer the ball home from close range.
Substitute Gary McCabe was sent off for dissent with ten minutes to go to make Rovers’ situation even worse, but the Hoops battled gamely to the end and got their reward with Finn’s late equaliser.
Dundalk 1-1 Sligo Rovers
With Shamrock Rovers only managing a point against Bohemians, Sligo Rovers missed out on a chance to go top of the table after an entertaining 1-1 draw with Dundalk at Oriel Park.
The hosts went in front in comical fashion after only six minutes. Having been denied what looked like a stonewall penalty three minutes earlier, Paul Cook’s side shot themselves in the foot when Richie Ryan’s backpass caused confusion in the visitors’ defence and Jason Byrne took advantage to lash the ball home from the edge of the area.
Sligo responded just after half an hour when Gavin Peers headed a John Dillon corner to the net to draw the sides level.
Mark Quigley and Mark Hector went close for Dundalk after the break and Eoin Doyle and Raffaele Cretaro had chances for Paul Cook’s side after the break, but in the end neither side could add to their tally and a draw was a fair result.
Galway United 1-4 Derry City
Derry City joined Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers at the top of the Airtricity League table with a comprehensive victory over Galway United at Terryland Park.
James McLean struck twice for Stephen Kenny’s side, with Eamon Zayed and Gareth McGlynn adding the others in what was yet another impressive performance by the Candystripes.
Zayed put Derry in front just before the break with an assured finish from close range and McLean doubled the visitors’ lead with a fine individual effort a minute after half time.
Bobby Ryan got the Tribesmen back into the game with the hosts’ only goal of the game after 49 minutes, but Derry always looked in control and they restored their two goal advantage through McLean, who lashed a shot to the top corner six minutes later.
Gareth McGlynn put the icing on the cake for the Candystripes with a lovely header just after the hour mark and Derry cruised to a victory which puts them level on points with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers at the top of the table.
St. Patrick’s Athletic 1-1 UCD
A late equaliser from Graham Rusk provided UCD with a valuable point against St. Pat’s at Richmond Park.
In stoppage time at the end of the second half, Rusk took advantage of a mix up in the Pat’s defence and slotted past Gary Rogers to rescue a point in a game in which Pat’s looked to be cruising to victory.
Anto Murphy put Pat’s in front a minute before the break, steering the ball to the net after Ian Daly had scuffed his shot in front of goal. The goal was a big blow for the Students, who had competed well up to that point in the first half.
Paul O’Connor and Samir Belhout had chances for the visitors before Rusk’s late equaliser, earning a point which means that UCD rise above Galway United to eighth in the table.
Bray Wanderers 2-1 Drogheda United
Only a point separates Bray Wanderers from the top of the table after the Seagulls continued their excellent start to the season with victory over bottom of the table Drogheda United at the Carlisle Grounds.
The hosts scored twice in the opening ten minutes after a blistering start. Danny O’Connor opened the scoring with his third goal in as many games when he headed John Mulroy’s cross to the net and Dane Massey headed in a Gary Dempsey delivery minutes later to double the lead for Pat Devlin’s side.
Stephen Trimble pulled off a number of outstanding saves for the visitors as Bray continued to dominate, yet somehow failed to add to their tally in the remaining 80 minutes.
They were also made to pay for their profligacy in the dying moments of the match when Drogheda pulled one back nine minutes from time with their first shot on target, a low effort from Daragh Hanaphy that slid under Darren Quigley to the net.
Bray held on for a victory that sees them on 13 points after seven games, their best ever start to a Premier Division season.
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