Sligo Rovers’ dramatic and unexpected defeat of league-leaders and champions-elect Cork City on Friday night has been the Bit O’ Red move out of the bottom three in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
Rhys McCabe’s effort from wide on the left bounced all the way to the net past Mark McNulty at Turner’s Cross as Rovers won away from home for the first time this season, and also claimed a win for the first time in seven games.
It was McCabe’s second goal for the club and led to Cork losing for just the second time all season.
Galway United conceded two late goals to Shamrock Rovers’ Gary Shaw to drop to second-from-bottom, while Harps conceded three late goals as relegation rivals St Patrick’s Athletic picked up a 4-0 win at Richmond Park.
Harps’ night of woe also saw striker Eddie Dsane red-carded, while Rovers captain Craig Roddan also faces a suspension after he was harshly shown two yellow cards in the win in Cork, despite his man-of-the-match display.
Drogheda United lost 2-1 away to Bray Wanderers.
On Saturday, Rodrigo Tosi scored the only goal from the penalty spot as Limerick moved back above St Pat’s into seventh thanks to a 1-0 defeat of Bohemians in Markets Field.
Limerick are now three points clear of Rovers, and four clear of the relegation zone.
Rovers have no game next week as the FAI Cup continues, so there next out is at home to Falkirk in the Scottish Challenge Cup on the first weekend in September.
After that they face crucial trips to Finn Harps and Galway United in the league, before hosting Bohemians.
Harps, meanwhile, will play host to Cork City on Monday night in Finn Park, without the suspended Dsane, but with Caolan McAleer and Paddy McCourt set to return from bans.
Elsewhere at the weekend, Sligo Rovers’ U19 and U17 sides both lost out 2-1 to Bohemians in the league.
Mark Hannon scored for the U19s in IT Blanchardstown, while Dylan Munnelly scored for the U17s at the Sean Fallon Centre.
On Friday night, Rovers U15 boss Conor O’Grady enjoyed a 3-2 win over Harps in Killygordon in the first game in the new U15 League.
Killian Heaney scored twice for Rovers, with Ciaran Jennings getting the third and goalkeeper James Robinson saving a penalty.
Conor Black and Luke Rudden scored for Kevin McHugh’s Harps side.
