Airtricity Premier Division: Matchday 2 - Derry move top with 4-0 win over Bray

9 Mar 2012 22:21:00

A 4-0 win over Bray Wanderers moves Derry City to the top of the Premier Division table, while St Pat's continued their winning start with a 2-0 victory against Dundalk

Three sides finished week two with six points from six, but Derry City took the top spot in the Airtricity Premier Division thanks to a 4-0 away win over Bray Wanderers.

Bohemians 0–2 Shelbourne

Billed as the “daddy of Dublin derbies”, the Bohemians-Shelbourne game provided plenty of action, and luckily only a few cards. Despite early pressure from the home side, Shelbourne took the lead after 20 minutes thanks to some individual skill from new signing Paddy Kavanagh. Evan McMillan’s weak clearance was picked up by Kavanagh, who controlled it superbly and drove the ball into the top corner.

Both sides had decent chances at the end of the first half, but the defences held firm to keep the score at 1-0. The two teams looked for goals in the second half, but it was the visitors who found the net. Kavanagh’s shot was spilled by Craig Sexton, and left Philip Hughes with a simple tap-in.

Bohs continued to look for a consolation goal, but Shelbourne’s defence held firm to give them their first win of the 2012 season.

Bray Wanderers 0–4 Derry City

Referee Anthony Buttimer suffered the ire of Bray Wanderers fans with a controversial performance at the Carlisle Grounds. Stewart Greacen headed home the opener from a Patrick McEleheny cross for Derry’s opener, but the rest of the first half was determined by Buttimer.

First, he failed to award Bray a penalty, with David McDaid immediately scoring at the other end, and under 10 minutes later he sent off Bray goalkeeper Darren Quigley. Pierce Sweeney had brought down Rory Patterson in the box, but instead of dismissing the defender, Buttimer showed the red card to Quigley. Patterson brushed himself off and coolly slotted the penalty past sub keeper Brian Kane to make it 3-0 at the break.

Derry dominated the second half thanks to the man advantage, but took 20 minutes to extend their lead. Smart passing set up Patterson for his second, giving Derry a 4-0 win and putting them top of the table on goal difference.

Cork City 2–3 Drogheda United

Republic of Ireland underage duo Johnny Dunleavy and Daryl Horgan linked up for Cork’s first goal. Dunleavy’s pass found Horgan in the box, with the midfielder scoring his first ever Premier Division goal.

Veteran forward Vinny Sullivan doubled Cork’s lead, latching onto Horgan’s cross, before Tiarnan Mulvenna brought Drogheda back into the game with a simple tap-in. An exciting second half saw a red card and two more goals, as Shane Duggan was harshly dismissed for pushing Brian Gannon, just minutes after Peter Hynes had brought it back to 2-2 with a penalty.

Drogheda made the most of the red card, and with momentum behind them, grabbed a winner from a corner kick. Philip Hand launched the set-piece into the box, and Gavin Kavanagh headed into his own net.

A disappointing loss for Cork City, who could struggle this season without Graham Cummins’ goals. That's two defeats from two.

Dundalk 0–2 St Patrick’s Athletic

At Oriel Park, St Patrick’s Athletic dominated the opening 45 minutes, but only led by a single goal at the break. Neat passing from Greg Bolger and Dean Kelly found Stephen O’Flynn, who hit home on nine minutes.

Pat’s pressurised Dundalk in midfield, stopping them from gaining any momentum, but could not muster up any significant chances themselves, despite being much the better side.

Dundalk looked more lively at the start of the second half, and hit the post from Derek Foran’s header, but St Pat’s doubled their lead when John Russell latched onto Bolger’s pass for a tidy finish. After the second goal, the visitors settled into the game much more, and looked comfortable playing out a 2-0 lead.

Shamrock Rovers 3–1 Monaghan United

Monaghan United were huge underdogs heading to the Tallaght Stadium, with many bookmakers offering 11/1 on an away win, and manager Roddy Collins writing his side off before the game even commended. Nonetheless, four minutes in, Willo McDonagh headed home Darragh Reynor’s free kick to give Mons a surprising lead. They seemed happy to protect the lead, and Reynor even picked up a booking on just 19 minutes after him and goalkeeper Chris Bennion were caught time wasting.

Shamrock Rovers were disappointing, and looked shaky in midfield. They improved as the game went on, and were much the better side in the second half. Craig Sives’ header was cleared off the line just after the restart, before Killian Brennan equalised with a backheel from Billy Dennehy’s corner.

Shamrock Rovers’ second goal was a sublime individual effort from Dennehy, who flicked up Stephen Rice’s pass and blasted home from the edge of the area. Monaghan looked jaded after the goal, and Reynor picked up a second yellow with 20 minutes left to kill off any chance of a comeback.

In stoppage time, Gary McCabe and Rice linked up to provide Aaron Greene with a perfect pass to end the match 3-1.

Sligo Rovers 2-1 UCD

Sligo Rovers and UCD played out an epic finale at the Showgrounds, with both sides scoring in stoppage time, with Sligo Rovers coming out on top. New signing Danny North scored his first goal for the Bit o' Red, chipping Ger Barron after 23 minutes.

Alan Keane was sent off just before the goal, after he went in hard on UCD attacker Graham Rusk. The extra man advantage paid off in the second half, with the Students looking more likely to score.

After hitting the woodwork twice, defender David O'Connor headed home in the 92nd minute. The late equaliser looked to give UCD a share of the spoils, only for Jason McGuinness to convert a corner at the other end.