GARY TWIGG SIGNED off on his Shamrock Rovers career with a double against newly-crowned champions Sligo Rovers tonight.
The party was in full swing at the Showgrounds with the title already sealed for the Bit O’Red but the travelling Hoops looked to dampened the home faithfuls’ spirits.
Rovers went ahead after just ten minutes and it was that man Twigg – latching onto Gary McCabe’s ball and, after striking the crossbar, he followed up to put away the second time of asking.
The 28-year-old, who is expected to join Portadown, doubled the lead for Brian Laws’ side on 57 minutes. First to react to a short back-pass to Gary Rogers, Twigg rounded the ‘keeper before slotting home from a narrow angle.
Despite the defeat, the night belonged to Sligo and skipper Danny Ventre lifted the Premier Division trophy in front of 6,000 fans.
Drogheda United ensured a second-place finish and capped off what has been an terrific season for the Louth club by beating Bohemians 4-1 at Dalymount.
Tieran Mulvenna bagged a hat-trick on the night and, after Evan McMillan pulled one back for the Gypsies, defender Alan McNally added one more.
St Patrick’s Athletic, two points behind the Drogs going into the final set of fixtures, took three points at home to Cork City.
Christy Fagan struck in the second half to hand the Saints a 1-0 win ahead of next Sunday’s FAI Cup final with Derry City at the Aviva Stadium.
At the Belfield Bowl, UCD and Shelbourne played out a 1-1 draw. Both goals came in the first half – Dave Cassidy put the visitors in front two minutes in and Hugh Douglas levelled with a header from Chris Mulhall’s corner.
Bottom side Dunalk went out on a high with a narrow victory over Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park. Goals from Michael Rafter and Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters meant it was all-square going into the final period of the game but Barry Conlan struck on 79 minutes to hand them a first league win at home in seven months.
They will face Waterford United in a promotion/relegation play-off after the Blues added a 1-1 draw to their first leg win over Longford Town tonight.
Peter Higgins gave Paul O’Brien’s men the perfect start and Alan Kirby’s 90th-minute was little more than a consolation.
Results:
- Sligo Rovers 0-2 Shamrock Rovers
- Bohemians 1-4 Drogheda United
- Dundalk 2-1 Bray Wanderers
- St Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 Cork City
- UCD 1-1 Shelbourne
First Division play-off:
- Waterford United 1-1 Longford Town
