LEAGUE OF IRELAND FIRST DIVISION: ROBBIE FARRELL scored four times as Dundalk beat Kildare County 6-1 at Station Road on Saturday night to win the First Division title and with it promotion back to the Premier Division for the first time since 2002.

But that second big win in succession wouldn't have been enough until a dramatic, 93rd-minute equaliser from substitute Colin Scanlon gave Limerick 37 a 1-1 draw against Shelbourne. It meant Dundalk, leaders of the table for 21 of the previous 35 rounds of the season, leapfrogged Shelbourne to take the title by just one point.

As the majority of the 2,038 crowd at Tolka Park went from joy to despair, the reverse was palpable among the 800 or so Dundalk fans in Newbridge as news filtered through.

"It's a great achievement," said Dundalk manager John Gill. "I'm thrilled for everybody. There was a make-believe world for a while at the end. Walking across the pitch we hadn't been promoted, then halfway across we are.

"I said at the start of the season that this is the best group of players I've had in my three years here. Their professionalism, application and desire showed over the course of the season.

"They wrote their own little bit of history by getting this club, a sleeping giant, back to the Premier Division where it belongs," added Gill, whose position as manager for next season remains uncertain.

"I appreciate all the support I got from genuine people," he added. "Let's now as a group and a club finally unite as one, stop all the bullshit that goes on in the background and support the club in the right way."

Such was his disappointment, Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely left Tolka Park within minutes of the final whistle without commenting.

St Patrick's Athletic midfielder Keith Fahey was last night named the PFAI player of the year at a function in Dublin.

Dundalk's David Cassidy picked up the First Division award.

Derry City winger Niall McGinn was named young player of the year.