Football | League of Ireland talking points

.@dundalkfc suffered another league defeat as their worries continued, but it was a memorable night for @sligorovers, as @RomeoParkes27 and @LeverockD92 helped them to a deserved three points. Watch the highlights here pic.twitter.com/m1VXtznMp1 — Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) April 13, 2019 The Bohs are back in town Bohemian FC maintained their good form with a 1-0 win over Finn Harps in Donegal. Daniel Grant scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute to claim Bohs' first away win against Harps since 2008. Grant and James Finnerty both had headed chances for the visitors in the opening minutes, before James Talbot was forced into a save by Harps' Nathan Boyle. Bohs deservedly took the lead eight minutes before the interval, with Grant's bouncing strike finding the net after the hosts failed to clear Keith Ward's cross to safety. Dinny Corcoran struck the post shortly afterwards, with Harps 'keeper Ciaran Gallagher saving from Ward's follow up attempt. John Kavanagh forced Talbot into another save in the second half, and Ollie Horgan's home side felt they should have had a penalty when Mikey Place went to ground in the box, but the officials remained unmoved. Bohs held on to keep the pressure on leaders Shamrock Rovers, but it was an eighth successive league defeat for Finn Harps. Harps are without a win this season, having lost nine and drawn two of their 11 matches to date. Keith Long's visitors, on the other hand, have amassed 20 points from nine matches, and are eight points off rivals Shamrock Rovers with two games in hand. Another win for Bohs, and another clean sheet. Seventh straight win for Hoops Seven wins on the trot for Shamrock Rovers. Sean Kavanagh and Roberto Lopes grabbed the goals as the Hoops beat Waterford 2-1 in Tallaght on Friday. Aaron Drinan scored a stoppage time consolation goal for the visitors, but it was too little too late for Alan Reynolds' men. It was Waterford who nearly took a fifth minute lead, but Republic of Ireland U21 international Zak Elbouzedi blazed over from a good position. Damien Delaney was relieved to see his sliced clearance go wide of his own post from Ronan Finn's cross, but Rovers took the lead in the 27th minute. Aaron Greene turned well in midfield and found Trevor Clarke wide on the left, and the full back's low pull back was met by Kavanagh, who took a touch before finishing neatly into the far bottom corner. Greene should have scored Rovers' second before half time, but Rory Feely did well to clear his effort off the line. Waterford shot stopper Matthew Connor made a good save to deny a Finn header on the hour mark, but Stephen Bradley's hosts doubled their lead seven minutes later. Jack Byrne's corner found Lopes in the box, with 'Pico' jumping well to direct his powerful header past Connor from six yards. Elbouzedi went close with a curling effort as Waterford looked for a way back into the game. They finally made the breakthrough with the last kick of the game. Substitute Ismahil Akinade used his pace to get to the byline and cross into the box, and Drinan pounced on some hesitant defending to poke the ball into the top corner from close range. Waterford's defeat leaves them seventh on 10 points, while another three points for Rovers sees them maintain their 10 point advantage (on 28 points) at the summit.

.@shamrockrovers recorded yet another win as they consolidated their place at the top of the @@SSEAirtricityLg, beating @WaterfordFCie 2-1. #SoccerRepublic pic.twitter.com/qoLxpva6Xn — Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) April 13, 2019 Candystripes cruise against students Derry City moved up to third with a 2-0 win over UCD at Belfield on Friday night. Gregory Sloggett and Darren Cole were on the scoresheet in a comfortable victory for the Candystripes against the students. Former UCD player Sloggett opened the scoring in the 24th minute, arriving unmarked in the six yard box to head home a corner. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe then forced UCD 'keeper Conor Kearns to parry away a fierce drive, before students' skipper Gary O'Neill denied the Derry youngster with a block a few minutes later. Cole scored a crucial second for the visitors in the 71st minute, with the goal again coming from a corner. The ball dropped to Cole in the box, and he produced a smart turn before squeezing a low strike into the bottom corner past the outstretched arms of Kearns. UCD had plenty of possession but rarely threatened a comeback, and Derry held on to move above Dundalk in the table. They are now third on 17 points, three points behind Bohs, and 11 off Shamrock Rovers.

.@GregSloggett scored against his former club as set-pieces proved key for @derrycityfc in a 2-0 win over @ucdafc. #SoccerRepublic pic.twitter.com/5xL5qu0ooo — Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) April 13, 2019