League of Ireland: Shamrock Rovers defeat arch-rivals Bohs but Derry avoid loss to delay crowning of champions

Four League of Ireland Premier Division games are up for decision this evening where a win for Shamrock Rovers and defeat for Derry will see the Hoops clinch a fifth title in six seasons.

There’s also plenty to play for at both ends of the table and you can catch all the action as it happens here.

Key updates

GOAL! Shels go ahead from the spot! Shelbourne 2 - Waterford 1 Penalty to Shelbourne! Paddy Barrett is taken down in the box and Shels have a huge chance here to take the lead late on. Harry Wood puts Shels back in front from the penalty spot. A perfect spot kick into the bottom corner for his eighth league goal of the season, and what a huge goal that may prove to be in the race for Europe. - Sean O'Connor from Tolka Park.

GOAL! Derry find an equaliser in Louth! Drogheda United 1 – Derry City 1 The Shamrock Rovers party has potentially been postponed again after news has emerged that Derry have leveled things up at Sullivan & Lambe Park! Brandon Fleming's initial effort was saved by Luke Dennison. The Shamrock Rovers party has potentially been postponed again after news has emerged that Derry have leveled things up at Sullivan & Lambe Park! Brandon Fleming's initial effort was saved by Luke Dennison. The Shamrock Rovers party has potentially been postponed again after news has emerged that Derry have leveled things up at Sullivan & Lambe Park! Brandon Fleming's initial effort was saved by Luke Dennison. However, Danny Mullen tapped hope from the rebound in the 54th-minute which lead to a booking for incensed Drogheda gaffer Kevin Doherty.

52' GOAL! Magic from Mandroiu! Shamrock Rovers 2 – Bohemians 1 Josh Honohan deserves a massive amount of praise for his work in the build-up to that goal. The wing-back played a neat one-two and slalomed inside before feeding it back to Danny Mandroiu who cushioned the ball into the top-left corner beyond Chorazka's reach.

GOAL! The Blues find an equaliser! Shelbourne 1 - Waterford 1 We are level here at Tolka as Waterford pull themselves back into it through Conan Noonan. Jesse Dempsey's cross found the man on loan from Shamrock Rovers, who was afforded too much space in the Shels box before unleashing a fantastic finish into Wessel Speel's bottom corner. It has been coming. - Sean O'Connor from Drumcondra.

TWO GOALS! The Rebels respond before Galway regain the lead! Galway United 2 – Cork City 1 The battle at the bottom end of the league takes another turn as Cork briefly level through Alex Nolan in the 42nd-minute with a thunderbolt from 30-yards range. Parity is short-lived however, as Shane Walsh restores the Tribesmen's lead just six minutes later.

GOAL! Drogheda go in front before the break! Drogheda United 1 – Derry City 0 A massive goal in the context of this night with Shamrock Rovers requiring a defeat for Derry to seal the title early. Kevin Doherty's men have just made that dream a potential reality with Fuhad Kareem finding the net on 39 minutes. The freekick sent in fell kindly for the 19-year-old to lace it home from the edge of the box.

40' GOAL! Bohs level things up! Shamrock Rovers 1 – Bohemians 1 Bohemians have equalised in a flash just five minutes out from the break. Jordan Flores fed Dayle Rooney who digs out a wonderful cross from the left flank. James Clarke - with 4 goals and 5 assists in his last 12 games - rises high in the box to head home powerfully.

GOAL! The Tribesmen find an opening! Galway United 1 – Cork City 0 What a massive goal that could be for John Caulfield's side and Galway. It's a real six-pointer at Eamonn Deacy Park and Stephen Walsh has given the hosts the lead inside 19 minutes. A set-piece delivery from Jimmy Keohane found the brave Patrick Hickey whose floating header was turned home by Walsh from close range.

12' GOAL! The Hoops lead in the derby! Shamrock Rovers 1 – Bohemians 0 That's just what Stephen Bradley will want to see, but it was so soft from a Bohemians perspective. Archie Meekison coughed up possession to Graham Burke who sauntered through the heart of the Bohs midfield and fired low and hard beyond Chorazka into the right corner.

GOAL! Shels grab the first of the night! Shelbourne 1 - Waterford 0 The first goal of the night in the Premier Division has been scored by Shelbourne as Ali Coote puts the hosts in front after just seven minutes. A fabulous ball over the top by Kerr McInroy found his fellow Scot close to goal, as Coote jinked past Grant Horton and fired into the roof of the net. A dream start for Joey O'Brien's men. - Sean O'Connor live from Tolka Park.

Tony Considine

League of Ireland (Full-time)

Premier Division:

Drogheda United 1 – Derry City 1

Galway United 2 – Cork City 1

Shelbourne 2 – Waterford 1

Shamrock Rovers 2 – Bohemians 1

First Division:

Bray Wanderers 0 – Longford Town 2

Cobh Ramblers 4 – Finn Harps 1

Dundalk 3 – UCD 2

Kerry 1 – Treaty United 1

Athlone Town 1 – Wexford 2

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That’s going to be that in terms of our coverage this evening! It was a pleasure to guide you through all the action and thank you for joining us on yet another thrilling round of League of Ireland drama.

Make sure to keep an eye on the Irish Independent as the evening progresses for further post-match reports and articles. Enjoy the rest of your night! We leave you with the thoughts of Hoops' goal-scorer Graham Burke:

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A big win for Joey O'Brien's side as Sean O'Connor signs off from Drumcondra:

It's all over here at Tolka and Shels secure a huge three points in their hunt for Europe as Harry Wood's late penalty is the difference against Waterford.

Shels are now just one point off fourth with a game in hand while the Blues are facing a real relegation fight, sitting in ninth and level on 34 points with Galway and Sligo Rovers.

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FULL-TIME: Shamrock Rovers defeat Bohemians in the Dublin derby for the first time this season!

There will be no trophy lifting ceremony in Tallaght this evening with Drogheda United and Derry City ending in a 1-1 stalemate - the Hoops required a Candystripes defeat to guarantee it!

Nonetheless, this result has massive implications for both sides as the season nears it's conclusion - the Hoops move a step closer to the title while Bohs' ambitions for Europe take a hefty blow.

Graham Burke opened the scoring in the 12th minute before Bohs responded through James Clarke five minutes before the interval. The game was decided by Danny Mandroiu shortly after the break thanks to some wonderful work from Josh Honohan.

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90+3' SAVE! What a massive save from Ed McGinty! Colm Whelan feeds Dayle Rooney on the left who takes a snapshot. It's whipped towards the far corner but McGinty pushes it away and Connor Parsons can't get to the rebound before its cleared.

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Plenty of added time in Drumcondra too, as Sean O'Connor provided the update:

A nervy ending ahead here at Tolka as eight minutes of additional time is announced after Sam Bone needed treatment before going off due to concussion.

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90' We have reached the final minute of normal time with a Bohemians free headed away by Darragh Nugent. We will have 5 minutes of injury time to play in Tallaght.

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First Division updates:

Cobh Ramblers 4 – Finn Harps 1

GOAL! More joy for Cobh late into injury time as Cian Bagary adds a fourth goal for the hosts.

Dundalk 3 – UCD 2

GOAL! Not over yet at Oriel Park as the Students pull one back through Jake Doyle on 75 minutes to set up a grand slam finish.

Kerry 1 – Treaty United 1

GOAL! Treaty United have left it late but Richkov Boevi has set up Ben Lee to equalise for the visitors on the stroke of 90 minutes.

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86' A final throw of the dice from Bohs as Colm Whelan replaces Cian Byrne and joins the attack. He partners James-Taylor up front.

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82' Bohemians sideline have been left apoplectic after Connor Parsons goes down in the box under pressure. They feel it was a penalty. There was an earlier appeal for the visitors for a challenge on Douglas James-Taylor too but nothing doing.

The Hoops have made a late double alteration with Darragh Nugent and Aaron McEneff in for Watts and Burke.

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GOAL! Shels go ahead from the spot! Shelbourne 2 - Waterford 1

Penalty to Shelbourne! Paddy Barrett is taken down in the box and Shels have a huge chance here to take the lead late on.

Harry Wood puts Shels back in front from the penalty spot. A perfect spot kick into the bottom corner for his eighth league goal of the season, and what a huge goal that may prove to be in the race for Europe. - Sean O'Connor from Tolka Park.

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First Division updates:

Bray Wanderers 0 – Longford Town 2

GOAL! Longford have extended their advantage in the 77th-minute through Stefan Ugbesia.

Athlone Town 1 – Wexford 2

GOAL! The visitors have completed the comeback and taken the lead just before the hour mark courtesy of Evan Osam's wonderful solo run and strike.

Kerry 1 – Treaty United 0

GOAL! That's a goal in every fixture of the night across both divisions now. What a big goal it could be for Kerry in this Munster derby as Sean McGrath puts them in front on 84 minutes.

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Aidan Fitzmaurice chips in with a little over 15 minutes remaining in this Dublin derby:

This Rovers-Bohs game is now quite open and you feel there is another goal to come, Rovers have had good chances from Graham Burke and Matt Healy but Bohs are pushing hard, Rovers not helped just now by a poor clearance from Ed McGinty that gave James Clarke an opening but McGinty redeemed himself with a save.

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Sean O'Connor joins us from Tolka Park with quarter of an hour remaining:

We're into the final 15 minutes here at Tolka and Shels are doing everything they can for the goal which would see them take a huge step towards European football for 2026.

They are working the ball into good positions but that killer finish is lacking, with Kerr McInroy's effort denied by the post being the closest the hosts have come to breaking the deadlock.

Waterford have failed to test Wessel Spell at all so far in the half and after back-to-back defeats to Dublin side, they seem satisfied with a point here.

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Connolly's clearance keeps Derry in the game:

Derry City's Mark Connolly has just made an extraordinary goalline clearance to deny Drogheda sub Warren Davis a certain goal.

Davis clips ball past Maher and it's rolling towards the goal but Connolly throws his body at it and somehow gets enough contact to send the ball onto the post and in the follow-up Hayden Cann's clearance rebounds off Darragh Markey and somehow goes wide of the post.

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70' SAVE! That was almost a nightmare for Hoops goalkeeper McGinty. His misplaced pass found James Clarke who spotted him off his line. The lobbed effort was on target, but McGinty did just enough to claw it away from danger.

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68' Bohs gaffer Alan Reynolds has called upon the cavalry in Tallaght with Connor Parsons, Adam McDonnell and Rob Cornwall replace Ross Tierney, Archie Meekison and Jubril Okedina.

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First Division updates:

Dundalk 3 – UCD 1

TWO GOALS! Any fears of Cobh reducing the gap to the Lilywhites has been extinguished now. Gbemi Arubi converted his second penalty of the night on 64 minutes, while Eoin Kenny has added a third in the 72nd-minute.

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64' SAVE! The Hoops are full of confidence now as Danny Mandriou attempts to cross centrally for Noonan before Okedina.

The resulting corner falls to Pico Lopes who swings a left boot at it from close range - wonderful save from Chorazka who extended his leg to make the save.

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63' Rory Gaffney is withdrawn by Stephen Bradley past the hour. In his place comes Michael Noonan who was absent through injury for the last two games.

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