St Patrick’s Athletic have closed the gap on leaders Shelbourne to just one point after a comprehensive 4-0 win over bottom club Monaghan United.
St Pat’s, who have a game in hand over Shels, were three up before half-time, such was their total and utter dominance at Century Homes Park.
Ger McCarthy opened the scoring after just six minutes, nipping in ahead of the defence to score from a corner. Robbie Griffin doubled their lead midway through the first period before McCarthy tucked away his second four minutes from the break.
St Pat’s continued to pour forward in the second-half and were never stretched by a Monaghan side with just two league wins under their belts. Indeed, it was a wonder how they managed just one further goal, Philip Hughes, back at Richmond Park after a wonderful loan spell with Kilkenny, completing the rout on 83 minutes.
Elsewhere, Galway United suffered their second home league defeat in just three days, this time at the hands of Bohemians.
Galway were soundly beaten by Cork City on Friday night and the sense of crisis at Terryland Park deepened this afternoon as they were hammered 5-1.
Paul Byrne, Kevin Hunt, Glen Crowe, Dave Morrison and Trevor Molloy - on his return to the team after hamstring problems - struck for the visitors to keep Galway facing relegation and boost their own, flagging, European hopes.
Colin Fortune grabbed the consolation for the home side.
At Tolka Park, Shamrock Rovers’ title challenge faltered as they were beaten 1-0 by UCD. Rovers remain five points behind Shels having played the same number of games and will rue a missed Stephen Grant penalty on 60 minutes.
Grant had the opportunity to cancel out John Martin’s first-half winner but his effort was saved by Barry Ryan in the Students goal.