Two defeats in a row for the Lilywhites
Dundalk lost for the second successive league game in the wake of their stunning Champions League success, going down 2-1 at Bray Wanderers.
After their defeat of BATE Borisov on a memorable night at the Tallaght Stadium, Dundalk lost two days later at Galway United, which maybe wasn't unexpected with the game coming such a short time after their European high.
But it's fair to say that few would have been tipping Bray to topple them, especially when Daryl Horgan opened the scoring for the Lilywhites after just 12 minutes.
Mark Salmon equalised for the Seagulls just before half-time, and with ten minutes left Karl Moore curled a 25-yard free-kick past Dundalk keeper Gary Rogers to pinch the three points.
It wasn't ideal preparation for Dundalk's next encounter, the Champions League play-off double-header against Legia Warsaw, but they still remain four points clear at the top of the table having played two games more than second placed Derry City.
Derby bragging rights for the Candystripes
Derry City recorded their first derby win of the season against Finn Harps at the third attempt, with a comfortable 5-0 win at Ballybofey.
The win moved Kenny Shiels' side into second place ahead of Cork City, ahead of the two teams meeting this week.
After a 2-1 loss on the opening day at Finn Park and a 2-2 draw at the Brandywell, Derry were never in trouble in the third clash of the season once Aaron McEneff scored two penalties for the Candystripes in the first-half.
Nathan Boyle, Lukas Schubert and Keith Ward added goals in the second-half to confirm a convincing win against a Harps side that were always second best.
Cork City slip up again
Another club struggling with a European hangover are Cork City, who followed their defeat to Sligo Rovers with a goalless draw at home to Bohemians.
With Dundalk uncharacteristically losing two games on the bounce, the Leesiders once again spurned a chance to close the gap at the top of the table, but were kept at bay by a stubborn and well organised Bohs defence.
Bohemians spent much of the game camped in their own half, and stood firm in the face of pressure from the home side, who had the added frustration of seeing Sean Maguire find the back of the net twice, only to have both efforts ruled out for offside.
City are now in third place, six points behind Dundalk, but have a game in hand.
Resurgent Sligo win the "Battle of the Rovers"
Sligo Rovers extended their unbeaten run to seven games with a good 3-2 win over Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.
It's now over two months since Sligo last lost a game, and the victory moves them to within two points of the Hoops who remain in fourth place, and maintains the possibility of the Bit o'Red snatching a European place that looked unlikely earlier in the season.
The visitors took the lead through youngster Sean Boyd, but goals from Achille Campion, John Russell and Rafael Cretaro put Sligo in control before Aaron Dobbs pulled a goal back late on.
Limerick are First Division Champions-elect
Limerick now just need one point to clinch the First Division title after a 2-0 win over Cabinteely at the Markets Field.
Shane Tracy and Garbhan Coughlan both scored in the first-half to secure another win and continue the march towards the League title, which has looked inevitable almost from the start of a season that has seen them win 19 and draw two out of 21 league games.
Martin Russell's side can now clinch the title at UCD this week, and even if they don't, they would still have six fixtures left to pick up the elusive point.
Results:
Premier Division
Bray Wanderers 2 Dundalk 1, Cork City 0 Bohemians 0, Finn Harps 0 Derry City 5, St. Patrick's Athletic 1 Galway United 0, Sligo Rovers 3 Shamrock Rovers 2, Wexford Youths 2 Longford Town 0.
First Division
Cobh Ramblers 2 Athlone Town 1, Limerick 2 Cabinteely 0, UCD 1 Drogheda United 1, Waterford United 2 Shelbourne 1.
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