BOHEMIANS delivered the headline result from the weekend's SSE Airtricity League fixtures, when they became the first team to beat reigning champions and league leaders Dundalk this season.
The Gypsies' 2-1 win at Oriel Park was Dundalk's first home league defeat in 26 games - a run stretching all the way back to September 2013.
Dundalk fell behind after just two minutes, when Adam Evans collected a pass from debutant Ismahil Akinade and fired in a shot that hit the crossbar and rebounded off Lilywhites' gaolkeeper Gary Rogers into the net.
But within eight minutes Dundalk were level, when Dane Massey powered home a header from a Daryl Horgan corner kick.
As the game wore on, Stephen Kenny's men dominated possession and David McMillan, Richie Towell, and Andy Boyle all had chances to score before Bohs struck with a sucker punch 16 minutes from time, when Dave Mulcahy was allowed time and space to head home from a Lorcan Fitzgerald left wing cross.
It could have been even worse for Dundalk when they conceded a penalty two minutes from time -Paddy Barrett being shown a second yellow card after he brought down Akinade in the box, but Lilywhites keeper Rogers saved the resultant spot kick from Kealan Dillon.
Cork City took advantage of Dundalk's defeat to narrow the gap at the top of the table to three points, with a 3-1 defeat of Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Dan Murray headed the Leesiders ahead in the 12th minute, and on the stroke of half time Billy Dennehy's corner kick evaded attackers and defenders alike and ended up in the back of the net to give the visitors a two goal cushion at the break.
Two minutes into the second half Jason Molloy gave Galway some hope with a goal of the season contender from 35 yards to reduce the arrears, but a third goal from Garry Buckley eight minutes from time secured the points for City
Shamrock Rovers kept in touch with the top two, piling more misery on struggling Sligo Rovers with a 5-1 win at the Tallaght Stadium.
Rovers were never in trouble against the Bit O’Red, who now sit just a point above the relegation zone, with Brandon Miele and Michael Drennan both scoring twice, and Kieran 'Marty' Waters also getting on the scoresheet for the Hoops.
St Patrick's Athletic followed up their fine cup win over Shamrock Rovers last week with a comfortable 3-0 win over Derry City at the Brandywell.
Aaron Greene opened the scoring in the 26th minute, advancing into the penalty area and burying a shot in to the bottom right hand corner of net, and 11 minutes into the second half James Chambers added a second from a free kick.
A fine solo effort from Chris Forrester rounded off a comprehensive win for Saints, when he collected a through ball, beat Shane McEleney and clipped the ball over the advancing Derry keeper Ger Doherty.
At the other end of the table, a return to their spiritual home of the Markets Field failed to deliver the first win of the season for bottom club Limerick, who lost 2-1 to Drogheda United.
President Michael D Higgins joined a crowd of 2,308 to watch Limerick's first league fixture at the Garryowen venue in more than 30 years, but the party atmosphere was dulled within 12 minutes, when a fine cross from Sean Thornton was met by visiting skipper Michael Daly, who glanced in a header via the post to put his side ahead.
The home crowd did have something to cheer just after the interval when Paul O'Connor powered home a header from a Shane Tracy cross, but any hopes of a revival were snuffed out a few minutes later when a Lee Duffy shot hit both posts before ending up in the back of the net for what proved to be the decisive goal for Drogs.
In the other Premier Division game, Trevor Croly's unbeaten start to his tenure at Bray Wanderers came to an end, when a goal from Aymen Ben Mohamed earned Longford United all three points and secured a 1-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds.
In the First Division leaders Finn Harps fell to their first league defeat of the season, going down 1-0 to Athlone Town at Lissywoollen.
Marco Chindea's goal 20 minutes from time was the difference between the two sides, and earned Town their first league win under new boss Alan Mathews.
The result meant that Harps lead at the top of the table was reduced to six points, with UCD moving into second place after an emphatic 6-1 Dublin derby win over Cabinteely.
The star of the show was Ryan Swan, son of former Bohemians star Derek Swan, who scored four of the students' goals, including a hat-trick inside six minutes just before half time.
Shelbourne continued their recent good form with a fourth straight league win, a hat-trick from Gareth Coughlan earning them a 3-2 win at Wexford Youths. The result means that Shels are now just a point behind third placed Wexford in the table.
A first half winner from Darren Murphy was enough to seal a 1-0 win for Cobh Ramblers in the Munster derby against Waterford United, a reverse that was United's sixth defeat in seven league games.
Results:
Premier Division - Bray Wanderers 0 Longford United 1; Derry City 0 St Patrick's Athletic 3; Dundalk 1 Bohemians 2; Galway United 1 Cork City 3; Limerick 1 Drogheda United 2; Shamrock Rovers 5 Sligo Rovers 1.
First Division - Athlone Town 1 Finn Harps 0; Cobh Ramblers 1 Waterford United 0; UCD 6 Cabinteely 1; Wexford Youths 2 Shelbourne 3.
