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Derry's Eamon Zayed scores the winning goal in Saturday's EA Sports Cup final ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
Talking Points

Barstooler: Five things we learned from this weekend's League of Ireland action

There were no real shocks in the League of Ireland this weekend, but that doesn’t mean that there was nothing to talk about.

1. Could Bray be the joker in the pack?

Shamrock Rovers may have stuck five past Bray yesterday, but the contest at Tallaght Stadium was much tighter than the lopsided 5-2 scoreline suggests.

In fact, had Shane O’Connor not been dismissed for a second yellow card 10 minutes before the break, Rovers would surely have found the visitors’ defence to be far less generous. To that point, Bray had been very well organised and value for their 1-0 lead, a reminder that they have taken all six points away from their previous two encounters with the champions this season.

Next up for the Seagulls is a trip to the Brandywell before they welcome Rovers to the Carlisle Grounds in a fortnight’s time. On yesterday’s evidence, Bray could still have a huge say in the title’s destination.

2. Time to stop the silly red cards

Staying with the same game for a moment, O’Connor might well feel aggrieved at his dismissal.

If his second yellow for a block on Gary McCabe was justified, his initial caution was soft, excused only by the fact that referee Richie Winters had booked Pat Sullivan for a similarly innocuous offence minutes earlier.

Rovers manager Michael O’Neill agreed afterwards that there are too many soft red cards in the league, but as we were reminded on Friday when Galway’s Stephen Walsh was shown a second yellow for not retreating 10 yards from a free, the players are often their own worst enemies.

3. Mean machine

By my count, Sligo have conceded only 15 goals and kept 21 clean sheets in their 31 league games so far this season, most recently in Friday’s 3-0 win over struggling Drogheda.

Paul Cook’s men have a tricky run-in as well as a cup semi-final to think about, but if Brendan Clarke and his back four can stay in this kind of form, who’d bet against them eking out wins from their difficult away trips against Bohemians and Pat’s?

4. City comfortable among Premier oppositon

Saturday’s EA Sports Cup final between Cork and Derry in Turner’s Cross was a rip-roaring contest which saw both sides carve out excellent chances. Until they were sucker-punched by Eamon Zayed’s 67th-minute penalty, Cork matched Derry stride for stride and could even have been in front had Graham Cummins’s shot kissed the other side of the post.

Losing out on the silverware will smart, but with that second automatic promotion place still up in the air, Tommy Dunne’s side should accentuate the positives of a performance that comfortably straddled the gap between the divisions.

5. Monaghan’s never say die attitude

Goals decide games, but late goals often decide titles.

Had Ryan Brennan not popped up in the fourth minute of injury time to grab a 3-2 win for Monaghan against Longford on Friday night, Mons’ grip on that second promotion place and aspirations of catching Shelbourne at the top of the table would be dead in the water.

Now, with the sides set to meet at Tolka Park on Friday night, it’s all to play for. If they can beat Shels on Friday, Mons will be just a point off top spot with seven games remaining.

Results

Premier Division:

  • Shamrock Rovers 5-2 Bray Wanderers
  • Galway United 0-3 Bohemians
  • Dundalk 0-2 St. Patrick’s Athletic
  • Drogheda 0-3 Sligo Rovers

First Division:

  • Finn Harps 2-0 Salthill Devon
  • Athlone Town 0-3 Shelbourne
  • Monaghan United 3-2 Longford Town
  • Limerick 6-0 Wexford Youths

EA Sports Cup final:

  • Cork City 0-1 Derry City

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