A battling Sligo Rovers performance at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night earned them a 2-2 draw with Champions Shamrock Rovers.
Liam Buckley’s side had led by two goals to nil with less than half-an-hour to go, thanks to two fine first-half finishes from Will Fitzgerald and Aidan Keena.
Shamrock Rovers were thrown a lifeline in the closing quarter when Andy Lyons was fouled in the box by Adam McDonnell and Graham Burke converted the spot kick.
Then, with nine minutes of normal time remaining, persistant Shamrock Rovers pressure saw Max Mata turn a cross into his own net.
Sligo Rovers had to live on their nerves in the closing moments as their opponents launched attack after attack.
But hold on they did – and Liam Buckley’s side remain unbeaten as they move onto 12 points from their six games played.
Rovers defender Nando Pijnaker, who flies to Qatar on Saturday, to link up with the New Zealand international squad for their World Cup play-off qualifiers this month, spoke to Oisin Langan after Friday night’s draw.
Derry City have gone top of the table following their 2-1 victory over St Pat’s – and Ollie Horgan’s Finn Harps collected their first league win of the season with an impressive 3-0 victory at Shelbourne.
Ethan Boyle, Conor Tourish and new signing Eric McWoods got Harps’ goals.
Friday night’s results
Shamrock Rovers 2 Sligo Rovers 2
Shelbourne 0 Finn Harps 3
Derry City 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
Drogheda United 1 Dundalk 0
UCD 1 Bohemians 1.
