NEAREST title challengers Cork City failed to take advantage of an unexpected slip up by Dundalk in the latest round of fixtures in the SSE Airtricity League at the weekend.
Both sides had to settle for a point from their respective games, meaning that Stephen Kenny's reigning champions maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table.
A battling Sligo Rovers side twice came from behind to earn a point against the league leaders in a an entertaining 2-2 draw at Oriel Park.
Ronan Finn gave Dundalk an early lead, but the visitors drew level just after half-time, when Dinny Corcoran headed home a Jennison Myrie Williams free-kick at the back post.
Finn restored Dundalk's lead just after the hour with a tremendous 25 yard free kick, but with 15 minutes remaining, Sligo's Alan Keane matched Finn's effort when he beat Gary Rogers from 30 yards to silence the home crowd.
Cork City blew the chance to narrow the gap between themselves and Dundalk after being held to a 0-0 draw against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
The Leesiders dominated throughout but couldn't break down a determined home defence, most notably in the final minute when a terrific blocking tackle from Bray's Hugh Douglas denied Karl Sheppard a certain goal.
Shamrock Rovers remain in third place despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Tallaght Stadium in the Dublin derby against Bohemians.
Ismail Akinade put Bohs ahead in the first half, when his shot rebounded off Hoops keeper Barry Murphy, hit him on the chest, and rolled into an empty net from 25 yards out.
But within minutes of the restart, Gareth McCaffrey collected a loose pass from Bohs' Keith Buckley, advanced forward and buried a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner to earn Rovers a point that keeps their hopes of a Europa League place alive.
Meanwhile, the relegation battle is hotting up, with just six points separating the bottom six clubs, and bottom of the table Limerick continued their remarkable run of form with a 3-1 win over St Patrick’s Athletic at the Markets Field, a win all the more impressive as they played with ten men for almost an hour of the game.
An Ian Turner free kick gave Limerick the lead, but after the Blues' Shaun Kelly was red carded for tangling with Saints' Morgan Langley, the visitors enjoyed a long spell of domination without making a breakthrough.
On the stroke of half time, Limerick doubled their lead when Vinny Faherty pounced on a mistake by Aaron Greene to slot home a second goal, and the win was secured when Turner grabbed his second of the night after the break with a header from a Dean Clarke cross.
James Chambers grabbed a consolation goal from Saints from a free kick.
Former Irish international Mark Kinsella got off to a winning start in his first match as caretaker manager of Drogheda United, with Drogs earning a vital 2-0 win at the Brandywell over Derry City.
It was a first win in 10 games for the visitors, and a result that not only boosted their chances of survival, but dragged Derry City further towards the relegation places.
Derry were guilty of several missed opportunities in the first half, before Drogheda took the lead three minutes before half time through Sean Thornton, who rose to head home an Adam Whelan cross.
Drogheda doubled their lead with a quarter of an hour remaining when Whelan was again the creator, this time setting up Jason Marks for a shot high into the roof of the net from eight yards.
A hat-trick from Jake Keegan and a single goal from Gary Shanahan earned Galway United the points in a 4-2 victory over Longford Town at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Dean Kelly scored two late goals for the visitors, but Keegan took the headlines for a performance that helped his side secure their first league win since July, and moved them two points clear of the relegation zone.
In Division One, Wexford Youths extended their lead at the top of the table to four points, coming from behind to clinch a 2-1 win over Cobh Ramblers at Ferrycarrig Park, with striker Danny Furlong scoring twice for the fourth match running.
Second placed Finn Harps surprisingly lost ground after they were held to a goalless draw at home by Roddy Collins' bottom-of-the-table Waterford United.
UCD are in third place, although they had to settle for a 2-2 draw at Athlone Town after being two goals ahead midway through the second half.
Ryan Swan gave the students a half time lead with his 12th goal of the season, and Chris Mulhall doubled the advantage 11 minutes into the second half.
But after Sam O'Connor began a Town revival by pulling a goal back, a late equaliser from Philip Gorman rescued a point for the home side.
Shelbourne remain in the final promotion play off spot, having been held to a goalless draw at home to Cabinteely.
Results:
Premier Division - Bray Wanderers 0 Cork City 0, Derry City 0 Drogheda United 2, Dundalk 2 Sligo Rovers 2, Galway United 4 Longford Town 2, Limerick 3 St Patrick's Athletic 1, Shamrock Rovers 1 Bohemians 1.
Division One - Athlone Town 2 UCD 2, Finn Harps 0 Waterford United 0, Shelbourne 0 Cabinteely 0, Wexford Youths 2 Cobh Ramblers 1.
See More: Cork City, Dundalk, Ian Templeman, Irish League, Round-up
