Three is the magic number for Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers made it three wins from three to move four points clear at the top of the Premier Division table with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Dundalk.

Ian Baraclough’s champions enjoyed the perfect start at Oriel Park, taking the lead inside two minutes when midfielder Lee Lynch played Raffaele Cretaro in to beat Peter Cherrie with a low drive.

Poor marking from Ross Gaynor’s free kick allowed central defender Gavin Peers to volley home from six yards for the second goal on 40 minutes.

Anthony Elding headed home Cretaro’s cross for the third seven minutes into the second half for his fourth goal of the campaign. Kurtis Byrne’s stunning 25-yard volley on 67 minutes was mere consolation for Dundalk.

Limerick got their first win as they beat struggling UCD 3-1 at Thomond Park to move up to third in the table.

UCD, beaten 6-0 at home by Derry City on Friday, were 2-0 down by 17 minutes. Played in by winger Danny Galbraith, Darragh Rainsford’s shot took a strong deflection to beat Mark McGinley and enter the net for the lead on 14 minutes.

McGinley was beaten again within three minutes when he allowed a 25-yard shot from David O’Leary to go under his legs.

Another mistake gifted Limerick their third goal on the half hour. Samir Belhout’s back pass fell short, and though Hugh Douglas blocked his first effort, striker Rainsford followed up to score his second of the night. Gary Burke got a goal back for UCD on 71 minutes.

Midfielder Michael Daly earned Drogheda United a point with an 81st minute equaliser against Derry City at the Brandywell. Derry had led from the half hour when central defender Ryan McBride scored with a header following a corner.

The games between St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers versus Cork City were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.