MERVUE UNITED clinched an impressive 3-1 win over promotion-chasing Monaghan United thanks to a Jason Molloy double.

Monaghan's defeat meant they blew a chance to go top of the table as Roddy Collins' side finished with nine men.

It went wrong for Monaghan from the start as they found themselves a goal down on five minutes when Molloy cut by Aidan Collins to shoot past keeper Gabriel Sava.

Declan O'Brien scored his sixth goal in five games to level for Monaghan on 17 minutes when intercepting a back pass by Eric Browne.

But defender Browne made amends to regain the lead for Mervue eleven minutes later when forcing home after Mark Ludden helped on Rory Gaffney's cross.

A fine second goal for Molloy, when he held off Paul Whelan and Conor McMahon to shoot home, arrived to put Mervue 3-1 up ten minutes into the second half.

Five minutes later defender Whelan was the first Monaghan player to see red when sent straight off for retaliation on Molloy.

Striker O'Brien, only back from a recent suspension, was then also dismissed for the second time this season on 77 minutes.

 

David Cassidy hit a second half winner as Shelbourne regained the leadership of the First Division table.

 

The game's only goal came two minutes after the interval, and at the third attempt, as managerless Harps failed to clear their lines.

 

Philly Hughes initially let fly only to see his shot come back off a defender. Brendan McGill then had a go with his effort rebounding into the path of winger Cassidy who shot past Ciaran Gallagher.

 

Goals early in each half made it three wins on the bounce for Limerick to end Athlone's good run.

 

Limerick had the lead on nine minutes when midfielder Jeffrey Judge beat Michael Schlingermann with a clever shot form a wide position.

 

Two minutes into the second half the lead was doubled when defender Brian McCarthy shot home following a corner.

 

Athlone had defender Niall Scullion sent off on the hour mark for lashing out at Limerick striker Stephen O'Flynn.

 

O'Flynn then did the spade work for the third goal on 82 minutes which resulted in Shane Tracy blasting home a left foot shot.

 

Wexford Youths   1   Waterford United   2

Goals from Conor Sinnott and David Breen ended Waterford's four match losing streak as they won the south-east derby at Ferrycarrig Park.

Midfielder Sinnott, a former Youths star, volleyed Blues into the lead on 18 minutes after Gary Keane flicked on keeper Kevin Burns' kick out.

Breen doubled the lead in the final minute of the first half. Youths failed to clear a corner and Kevin Murray's cross was stabbed home by fellow central defender Breen.

Youths rallied after the break and got a goal back through Danny Furlong from a 64th minute penalty following a hand ball by Lee Chin.