RITCHIE HALE maintained his remarkable scoring spree with a hat trick inside 17 minutes, his eighth goal in four matches, to virtually secure Kilkenny City's promotion in a 3-0 rout of Longford Town at Buckley Park on Saturday night.

Hale, nephew of Kilkenny manager Alfie Hale, opened the scoring after 42 minutes. He headed home his second 10 minutes into the second "half and added the third four minutes later. Kilkenny remain five points clear of second placed Drogheda but nine ahead of Waterford in third with five games to go.

Drogheda United consolidated their second placing, but needed a last minute penalty from midfielder Micky Harte to beat Cobh Ramblers at United Park.

Financially troubled Galway United's season was confined to a near disaster as their 2-0 home defeat to lowly St Francis virtually ends their flagging hopes of returning to the top flight. John Patton scored twice for St Francis.

Monaghan United produced their best display of the season to beat Limerick 3-0 at Gortakeegan in yesterday's only game.