WEEK 6 SAW the biggest surprise of the season so far as Bray Wanderers toppled the unbeaten Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght.
The Hoops were well below par against the Seagulls and after suffering an early blow when Danny O’Connor gave Bray a sixth minute lead, they never recovered.
Despite dominating possession, there was little the champions could do to break down the impressive Wanderers defence. Gary Dempsey was sublime for the away team, doing a fabulous job sitting in front of the impregnable back four.
Rovers were dealt a further blow when Gary Twigg was taken off before the break with a hamstring injury. Michael O’Neill’s team missed their star striker terribly and, although they’ve the biggest squad in the league with plenty of capable attacking options, a lay-off for Twigg will still have an effect on Rovers, particularly with Bohemians away next up on Friday night.
The defeat gave Sligo Rovers a chance to move joint top 24 hours later and they made absolutely no mistake, Alan Kirby firing a second-half brace to defeat St Patrick’s Athletic at The Showgrounds. Pat’s had played well in the first half but Kirby struck twice in the space of eight minutes to move the Bit O’ Red just behind the champions on goal difference.
Meanwhile, ahead of their titanic clash later this week with the Hoops, Bohemians recorded a pleasant victory over a yet again disappointing UCD, goals from Owen Heary and Anto Flood putting them on their way at the Belfield Bowl.
While Pat Fenlon’s future still hasn’t been confirmed, it looks more likely with each passing day that Nutsy will stay in the dugout at Dalymount and this win, which would have been expected, will see the Phibsboro side head into next week’s home game against their arch rivals with confidence.
Derry City also had a two-goal win over Dundalk on Friday night to move into joint third with Bohs, two points off the pace. At the beginning of the season, the word “consolidation” was often used in relation to the Candystripes, but they’ve started very well and remain unbeaten since the opening game of the season.
Gareth McGlynn and Eamon Zayed both grabbed goals in quick succession before half-time for Stephen Kenny’s men, who will be delighted to have also kept a clean sheet against their free-scoring opponents. Derry now face Galway United away next weekend and depending on other results could even find themselves on top of the pile.
Galway limped to a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Drogheda United, a result that doesn’t do either side much good though the Tribesmen will be slightly happier considering they were away from home.
For Drogs, however, they’re the only side still without a win in both divisions. Scoring goals is likely to be their main problem throughout the season as Philip Hand’s early opener was just their third so far this year.
Shels sublime
Cork City had to come from behind against Waterford United in the big First Division game of the weekend, goals from Greg O’Halloran and Shane Duggan giving them the boasting rights in an entertaining Munster derby.
They went top for 24 hours, but Shelbourne battered Athlone Town at Lissywoollen on Saturday night to return to the summit, a brace from Conan Byrne setting them on their way to a 4-0 win.
Declan O’Brien was on the scoresheet for Monaghan United again – his third goal in two appearances for the club – and they look menacing in third place after that solitary strike defeated Longford Town.
Limerick were defeated by Wexford Youths – certainly the shock of the weekend – as Shane Nolan pounced in injury time to give the south-east side their first points of the season, while Finn Harps and Salthill Devon played out a scoreless bore draw in Ballybofey.
