Vinny Faherty scored a hat-trick as St. Patrick’s Athletic beat UCD 5-0 at Richmond Park tonight to keep their tenuous title hopes alive, reducing Sligo Rovers lead at the top of the table to five points with their biggest win of the league season.

Drogheda United can move within six points of leaders Sligo Rovers if they beat Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds in the pick of tonight’s programme of Airtricity League Premier Division games (7.45pm).

Shelbourne 3 Cherry Orchard 2

A late Mark Quigley goal, his first of the season, gave Sligo Rovers a big 2-1 win against Derry City at the Brandywell to open up a seven point lead at the top of the Premier Division table.

Philip Gorman scored twice as Shelbourne recorded their biggest win of the season to heap further misery on hapless Dundalk at Tolka Park.

Philly Gorman scored twice as Shelbourne beat financially desperate Dundalk 4-0 at Tolka Park to record their biggest win of the season.

Shelbourne travel to Inchicore to face St Patrick’s Athletic in tonight’s FAI Ford Cup semi-final replay, kick-off 7.45pm.

HAVING not been good enough to put First Division Shelbourne away at Tolka Park on Friday night, St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Stephen Bradley wants a massive improvement at Richmond Park tonight for the FAI Cup semi-final replay (7.45pm).

Shelbourne and St Patrick’s Athletic go head to head at Tolka Park tonight for a place in this year’s FAI Ford Cup final (kick-off 7.35pm).

AS IF to illustrate just how long they’ve been out of the big time of Irish domestic football, Alan Mathews was yesterday reminded the last time Shelbourne featured live on television was when they were winning the league back in 2006.

SHELBOURNE were obliged to come from behind against Cork City to maintain their lead in the First Division, although the Leesiders had the consolation of leaving Tolka Park with their unbeaten record intact.

Shamrock Rovers can take a step closer to securing the league title with victory over UCD at the UCD Bowl tonight, kick-off 7.45pm.

Sligo Rovers will be without Danny Ventre for tonight’s Airtricity League Premier Division clash with UCD at The Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.

UCD welcome champions Bohemians to the UCD Bowl for tonight’s Airtricity League Premier Division clash (kick-off 7.45pm).

WITH the lead changing hands on almost a match to match basis, Sporting Fingal have the opportunity to go back to the top of the Airtricity Premier Division if they can overcome UCD at the Belfield Bowl this evening.

Ireland’s under-17 team recorded their second win of the UEFA Elite qualifying series this afternoon when James McCarthy scored a second-half winner against Greece in Schuttorf, Germany for the side 1-0.