Premier Division round-up: Derry City close gap on leaders Shamrock Rovers as St Pat’s see off Shelbourne

Teenager Tiernan McGinty celebrates his goal for Derry City against Cork City

Teenager Tiernan McGinty celebrates his goal for Derry City against Cork City Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

Derry City closed the gap on Shamrock Rovers to just four points after they won at home to Cork City on Friday night.

The Candystripes pounced on the Hoops’ Dublin derby draw against Bohemians with a 2-0 victory of their own.

Jamie McGonigle opened the scoring for Ruaidhri Higgins’ side in the first-half with his second goal of the season.

And Derry had to wait until late on before they could seal the deal when youngster Tiernan McGinty fired home.

The 17-year-old slotted home into an empty net on his debut for the club.

But all the drama was at Dalymount Park as Shamrock Rovers were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw against Bohemians.

Neil Farrugia gave the Hoops the lead in the early stages of the second half before Markus Poom blasted home minutes later.

Poom’s piledriver gave Stephen Bradley’s side a 2-0 lead, but they were stunned by a stirring Bohs fightback.

Jonathan Afolabi halved the deficit with a fine finish before James Clarke restored parity in the 73rd minute – six minutes after Afolabi scored.



And the Gypsies had a chance to win late on through Dylan Connolly, but Leon Pohls saved well to deny the former Dundalk winger.

Meanwhile, St Patrick’s Athletic claimed the spoils in the other Dublin derby of the night at Richmond Park against Shelbourne.

But it took a moment of inspiration from Jake Mulraney to separate the sides at the Emmet Road venue.

The crafty winger’s free-kick found the top corner of Conor Kearns’ net in the 69th minute – and that was the difference as Shels boss Damien Duff saw red after the full-time whistle.

At Weavers Park, Dundalk saw off local rivals Drogheda United thanks to a Patrick Hoban brace.

Hoban’s brace broke Joey Donnelly’s goalscoring record – but it may have been a different outcome if the Drogs took their earlier chances.

Adam Foley gave them a first-half lead, but a manic three-minute spell in the second half turned the game on its head.

Hoban levelled in the 78th minute before then firing home a penalty after Ryan O’Kane was fouled.

And during that period, Drogs striker Freddie Draper was sent off for dissent shown towards referee Rob Harvey.

Elsewhere, UCD stunned struggling Sligo Rovers at the Belfield Bowl thanks to a 2-1 win.

The Bit O’Red looked to be on course for a morale-boosting win when David Cawley gave them a 22nd minute lead.

But that lead was cancelled out by a fortunate Sami Clarke leveller as he blocked down Luke McNicholas’ clearance in the 74th minute.

And with just five minutes of normal time to play, Jake Doyle found a winner for Andy Myler’s side as they claimed their first win in over two months.

For Sligo, the result plunges them into further misery as they sit in eighth – level on points with ninth placed Cork City, and 12 points ahead of UCD at the foot of the table.

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