CORK CITY returned to the top of the First Division as Monaghan United ended Shelbourne's unbeaten run.

Shelbourne 2   Monaghan United   3

 Declan O'Brien scored the winner and was then sent off as Monaghan came from behind to end Shelbourne's unbeaten start to the season at Tolka Park.

 The game appeared to be going Shels' way from as early as the third minute when David Cassidy fired them in front after collecting a pass from Philly Hughes.

 But a stunning goal from Sean Brennan, his first of the night, had Roddy Collins' side level in the final minute of the first half when he finished off a superb move to drill a shot beyond Dean Delaney.

 Shels restored their lead within three minutes of the second half. Cassidy was the instigator when picking out winger Brendan McGill who shot past Gabriel Sava.

 Poor defending by Shels allowed Monaghan level again on 67 minutes. John Reilly was given time and space to pick out Brennan to score his second of the game.

 Further bad defending then gifted Monaghan the winner ten minutes later when O'Brien got in to lob Delaney.

 O'Brien, booked on 82 minutes, received a second yellow in stoppage time for a foul on Colm James.

 The win moves Monaghan above Shelbourne into second place.

  

Cork City  5   Finn Harps  0

 Graham Cummins scored a hat-trick as Cork moved back to the top of the table with their biggest win of the season.

 Cummins gave City the lead on 14 minutes when holding off a defender following Davin O'Neill's pass to shoot beyond Ciaran Gallagher.

 O'Neill was again the provider for Cummins to double Cork's lead six minutes later.

 O'Neill then got in on the scoring act to make it 3-0 and end the match as a contest on 65 minutes with a long range shot that beat Gallagher and squirmed in at the far post.

 Vincent Escude-Candau added the fourth from Gearoid Morrissey's pass on 78 minutes before Cummins got his hat-trick four minutes later from a penalty after he himself had been fouled by Harps substitute Keith Cowan.

   

Mervue United  0  Limerick FC  2

 Stephen O'Flynn was back to his best with a brace to beat Mervue at Fahy's Field and get Limerick's promotion push back on track.

 Fellow striker Peter Hynes carved the opening for the lead goal on 16 minutes with O'Flynn firing past Greg Hanley to the top corner.

 A defensive error by Nicky Curran gifted O'Flynn the ball to allow the Limerick striker make it 2-0 with another fine finish seven minutes into the second half.

  

 Wexford Youths  0   Athlone  Town  1

 A solitary goal from Tommy Barrett earned Athlone their first win of the season as Wexford finished with ten men.

 All the main action at Ferrycarrig Park was condensed into the final few minutes.

 Midfielder Barrett got the matchwinning goal on 87 minutes.

 Then, in the final minute, Youths' Patsy Malone was sent off for a foul on Bobby Tier.