St Patrick's Athletic resurrected the title hopes of their rivals this evening with a scrappy 2-0 win over Bohemians at Richmond Park.
Goals from Tony Bird and Paul Osam secured the points for the homeside while the league leaders' Derek Coughlan was sent off for a second bookable offence.
In turn, Cork City did their bit at Turner's Cross by beating Bray Wanderers by three goals to one.
An John O'Flynn hat-trick gave the hosts a valuable three points having been pegged back once by an Barry O'Connor strike.
Shamrock Rovers were equally efficient in taking advantage as they went away to Drogheda to win 2-0, with goals from Shane Robinson and Steven Grant.
Wanderers' loss was UCD's gain however as the students beat Derry City, courtesy of a Robert Doyle penalty after just five minutes, to take a valuable three points to move four ahead of Bray.