As it happened: League of Ireland Premier Division final day

All the action as it went down on the final day of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division

CLINCHER: Colm Whelan of Bohemians celebrates after scoring his side's third goal. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

6.35pm: That's all for tonight. Stay connected for all the reaction over the next few days and the build-up to the playoff final and FAI Cup final. There's two Conference League matches on Thursday too for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne.

6.34pm: While the Bohemians fans celebrate wildly, their first European exposure since 2021 will only occur if Cork City fail to beat Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup final on Sunday week, November 9 as Lansdowne Road (3pm).

6.32pm: Waterford are heading into the playoff to survive. Will face the winner of Treaty and Bray Wanderers to preserve their status. Two years ago, they were in the First Division’s sides place, ending their playoff hoodoo by overcoming Cork City.

Full-time scores:

Cork City 0 Derry City 1. 

Drogheda United 1 Bohemians 4. 

Shamrock Rovers 1 Sligo Rovers 2. 

Shelbourne 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 0. 

Waterford 1 Galway United 1.

Dylan Watts of Shamrock Rovers challenges Sligo's Owen Elding. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

6.30pm: Full time at Tolka Park, Saints falter on the line to end the season with nothing. They stay fifth while Bohs leapfrog them for fourth. Drogheda end the season in sixth.

6.28pm: All over at Drogheda. Bohs do their job by winning 4-1. St Pat's have 90 seconds to snaffle a goal at Shelbourne.

6.27pm: Tension abounds. Against a tide of Saints attacks, Shels conjure chance on the break. Harry Wood’s shot in stoppage time is denied by the post.

6.26pm: Drogheda 1 Bohemians 4. Bohemians do their part by swelling their lead heading into injury time. Colm Whelan makes it 3-1 as Shelbourne clear a St Pat’s chance off the line at Tolka Park. Then Ross Tierney scores to make it 4-1 for Bohs.

6.15pm: Shamrock Rovers 1 Sligo Rovers 2. A reply from Adam Matthews just past the hour makes it a nervy finish for Sligo.

6.14pm: Into the final 10 minutes and a goal in the RSC, O’Sullivan and Lambe Park (Drogheda) or Tolka Park will be decisive to final placings in the table.

Drogheda’s plight not helped by losing striker Josh Thomas to a red card.

6.04pm: Striker Aidan Keena has replaced midfielder Barry Baggley on the hour as St Pat’s seek a winner to nick fourth place.

5.48pm: A big second half – the last in the regulation 36-game season - kicks off with St Patrick’s Athletic requiring a goal to usurp Bohemians for fourth place.

In-form Shelbourne have been tough to break down on their home patch of Tolka Park. Jake Mulraney came close to breaking the deadlock approaching the break but Stephen Kenny needs more from his Saints to avoid their season deepening in disappointment.

Drogheda could do them a favour by equalising for a second time against Bohemians.

Sligo Rovers 2 Shamrock Rovers 0. Meanwhile, Sligo look safe after adding a second goal to make it 2-0 at Shamrock Rovers – teen star Owen Elding with the goal.

Waterford must beat Galway to hurtle John Caulfield’s side into the playoff.

5.24pm: Half time across the five grounds. In the unlikely event the score remain as is at full-time, Derry City seal second, Bohemians clinch fourth - and potentially a return to Europe - while Waterford’s Premier Division fate will be determined by a playoff against either Treaty United or Bray Wanderers.

5.15pm: Waterford 1 Galway United 1. Pádraig Amond gives the Blues a lifeline by equalising by nodding home his 14th league goal of the season, bringing the 37-year-old level with Mason Melia in the golden boot hunt. As it stands, only victory will do for Waterford to avoid a playoff.

5.13pm: Drogheda United 1 Bohemians 2. Drama continues in Drogheda. James Clarke regains the lead for Bohs, pouncing on an uncharacteristic error by goalkeeper Dennison.

James Clarke of Bohemians celebrates after scoring his side's second goal. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Sligo Rovers 1 Shamrock Rovers 0. Meanwhile at Tallaght, Sligo Rovers have gone ahead at the home of champions Shamrock Rovers. Ollie Denham’s goal moves the Bit O’Red further away from the danger spot of ninth.

5.06pm: Drogheda 1 Bohemians 1. Set-piece kings Drogs equalise from a free kick, leading to Conor Keeley bringing Drogheda United level. The centre-back climbed high to power his header home for his seventh goal of the season on 32 minutes.

Bohs are fortunate not to be down to 10 men, with John Mountney escaping a second booking. Alan Reynolds has acted swiftly by replacing the former Dundalk man with Niall Morahan.

Cork City 0 Derry City 1. Derry’s grasp on second place is tightening, with in-form Michael Duffy firing the visitors ahead at Cork City.

4.54pm: Drogheda 0 Bohemians 1. Bohemians strike first. Ex-Drogs man James Clarke fires past Drogs goalkeeper Luke Dennison on 15 minutesfollowing a mazy run, giving the Gypsies the early initiative in the chase for fourth spot.

Waterford 0 Galway United 1. Meanwhile, Waterford have fallen behind to Galway United. John Caulfield’s side have hit the front through Steven Walsh on 16 minutes.

As it stands, the Blues will have to beat Bray Wanderers to Treaty United in the playoff to preserve their Premier Division status for 2026.

4.45pm: Good evening folks! The final day in the League of Ireland sees all five fixtures kick-off simultaneously at 4.30pm, with something on the line in each.

Only the top and bottom places of the 10-team league are decided and, for those two Shamrock Rovers and Cork City, there’s places for players to play for in Sunday week’s FAI Cup final at Lansdowne Road.

There’s fourth place – potentially a route to European football if City don’t upset Rovers – up for grabs for three teams and the relegation playoff up to avoid for two of three teams.

Derry City and Shelbourne last week guaranteed the two European spots behind champions Rovers but can swap places if the Candystripes slip up at Turner’s Cross and Shels beat St Patrick’s Athletic.

The league runner-up will, if Rovers complete their first double for 38 years, grab the lucrative spot in the Europa League. Third qualifies for the Conference League.

St Patrick’s Athletic know that victory at Tolka Park will consolidate fourth place but if they don’t, a winner from the match in Co Louth between Drogheda United and Bohemians will steal that berth.

Down the bottom, the crunch clash is at the RSC where Waterford, currently occupying the second bottom spot, host Galway United. That pair, along with Sligo Rovers, are deadlocked on 38 points but the Blues have the worst goal difference record of the trio.

All games remain scoreless after 15 minutes.

Stay connected to find all the updates from the concluding day.