Soccer

Twigg bags hat-trick in Rovers rout

Airtricity League Premier Division round-up: Shamrock Rovers got the defence of their title back on track with an emphatic 6…

Fri Apr 13 2012 - 01:00

Airtricity League Premier Division round-up: Shamrock Roversgot the defence of their title back on track with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Dundalkin Tallaght, with Gary Twigg recording a hat-trick.

It was the Hoops' biggest victory at their new home, with Chris Turner , Billy Dennehy and Daryl Kavanagh also getting on the scoresheet for Stephen Kenny’s side.

The result helped close the gap on

Sligo Rovers

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to just one point at the top of the table as they were held to a 1-1 draw by

Derry City

at the Showgrounds.

Solid defending by the Candystripes and some superb goalkeeping by Gerard Doherty denied the table toppers.

Sligo went ahead  after 24minutes when Danny North scored from close range but the visitors levelled maters in the 35th minute after Simon Madden was brought down and David McDaid made no mistake with the spot kick.

St Patrick’s Athletic

were unable to keep up the scoring feats from their victory over Shamrock Rovers as they drew 1-0 away to

Drogheda United

at Hunky Dorys Park.

The Saints had the best of proceedings, although the home side nearly claimed all three points when Tiarnan Mulvenna hit the bar with four minutes to go.

Bohemians

claimed  a 2-1 victory over

UCD

at Belfield Bowl with a goal in each half from Keith Ward and Danny Corcoran, with the Students grabbing a late consolation when Graham Rusk fired home a penalty after a foul on substitute Robbie Benson.

Shelbourne

beat

Bray Wanderers

2-1 at Tolka Park on a night when Jason Byrne scored his 183rd League of Ireland goal to go second on the all-time list.

It wasn’t enough for the Seagulls as Philly Hughes’s early goal and a late effort from Philip Gorman earned the points for Shels.

Davin O’Neill bagged a hat-trick as

Cork City

left

Monaghan United

rooted to the bottom of the table after a 6-0 victory over Roddy Collins’s side at Turner’s Cross.

Daryl Horgan opened the scoring for the home side just before the half-hour and O’Neill opened his account soon after as they took a 2-0 lead into the break.

The game was up for the visitors four minutes after the restart when Vinny Sullivan scored Cork’s third. Monaghan’s night wasn’t helped when Keith Quinn was sent off for dissent after just picking up a yellow card for the free-kick that led to the goal.

O’Neill grabbed his second on 65 minutes and Tadhg Purcell got in on the act after 77 minutes before O’Neill completed his hat-trick with four minutes to go.