SHELBOURNE WILL TAKE a slender advantage into the final two games of a pulsating SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title race as four contenders kept alive their title ambitions with victories on Friday night.
Damien Duff’s Shels ended their six-game winless run to lead the way by two points after they came from behind to beat Waterford 3-1 at Tolka Park.
There was late drama for the longtime leaders as Seán Boyd and Liam Burt struck inside the final 10 minutes to seal three pivotal points for the hosts, this after Boyd had earlier cancelled out a Waterford penalty by Padraig Amond.
Derry City, meanwhile, occupy second spot on goal difference from Shamrock Rovers after the Candystripes earned a 2-0 win away to Dundalk.
Victory for Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side was sealed with goals in either half by Colm Whelan and Will Patching (penalty), and it also condemned Dundalk to relegation from the top flight.
Champions Shamrock Rovers remain in the hunt for a historic five-in-a-row, with Stephen Bradley’s men level on points with Derry City after a late Dylan Watts screamer earned them a 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Drogheda United.
St Patrick’s Athletic’s remarkable upturn in fortune under former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny continued, meanwhile, as they saw off fellow European-football chasers Galway United 2-1 at Richmond Park.
A 50th-minute Edward McCarthy thunderbolt drew visitors United level after Aidan Keena’s first-half opener, but Keena struck again on 67 minutes to move Saints three points clear of John Caulfield’s westerners and end United’s outside chance of winning the league.
While Shelbourne’s victory means that the title is now also likely beyond St Pat’s in that they trail the leaders by four points with two games to go, Kenny’s side still have European qualification within their control.
Saints host Derry City next Friday, against whom victory would see them enter the European spots with a game to go. Derry then welcome Shelbourne to the Ryan McBride Brandywell on the final day of the season, Friday 1 November.
For full coverage from tonight’s League of Ireland Premier Division games, visit The 42
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