Shamrock Rovers looked far from impressive in their come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Drogheda, but Gary Twigg looks like topping the goalscorers chart after notching a brace. Of the challengers, St. Pat's and Derry had single-goal wins over Bray and Bohs respectively, while new Sligo manager Ian Baraclough saw his team held 1-1 by newly-promoted Shelbourne. Cork were surprisingly beaten 1-0 by UCD on their return to the Premier, while the north-east derby between Monaghan and Dundalk finished goalless. In the First, promotion favourites Limerick stuttered to a 2-1 win over Finn Harps, challengers Longford won away to Mervue, the less-than-popular SD Galway were comfortably defeated by Athlone, while the big surprise came in the south-east where last season's second-worst club, Wexford, thrashed neighbours Waterford 6-0.

LoI clubs again have had the better results in the Setanta Cup QF first-legs, with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo comfortably defeating Cliftonville and Glentoran respectively, Derry secured a 1-1 draw in Windsor Park and will be confident of eliminating Linfield in the Brandywell, while DG can have some optimism, as Crues drew 0-0 with Bohs.

It's been a surprisingly disappointing return for Cork City - after last week's Belfield loss, they succumbed 3-2 last night at home to Drogheda. Bohemians are also struggling, going down 2-0 to Shelbourne, while Derry, St. Pat's and Shamrock Rovers kept their 100% records against Bray, Dundalk and Monaghan respectively. Waterford surprisingly overcame Limerick in the second tier to blow that division wide open.

It's a weekend of Dublin dominance in the LoI - Shelbourne move joint-top on 7 points after surprisingly beating Derry City, while Rovers and Pats only secured draws against Cork and Monaghan respectively, the Tallaght side requiring a 94th-minute equaliser, but Bohemians remain rooted to the bottom and pointless after losing to Sligo, who strike a blow for the West by also moving joint-top. The Louth derby finished scoreless, while Bray move off the bottom by defeating UCD. Longford remain top of the second-tier after seeing off Wexford, followed by Midland neighbours Athlone, who beat Finn Harps, and Limerick, who rebounded from last week's defeat at Mervue's expense. The latter highlight the continued malaise in Galway soccer, remain pointless, while Salthill lost again to Waterford and only attracted 200 spectators to their first match in Terryland Park.

Crusaders are the sole side flying the Irish League flag in the Setanta cup semi-finals, after an impressive 2-0 away win at Dalymount Park. Sligo qualify after a 3-1 aggregate win over Glentoran, while Derry won by the same score last night against Linfield at The Brandywell to go through 4-2. Shamrock Rovers again show inconsistent form, almost shipping 100 goals at Solitude , in the end, taken to extra-time 2-0 by Cliftonville, before winning on penalties.

Good King Wenceslas, Freddie Mercury, Gypsy Down Under...your boys (admittedly up against a hardened Crusaders' first team) took one hell of a medieval battle twatting. The cup treble still on, Aviva or wherever here we come ;)

Sligo Rovers in the semi, home leg first. If we win the final will be at Windsor Park.

President Higgins (currently clubless following Galway's demise) was in attendance last night at Tallaght Stadium, and witnessed a vintage performance from the champions as they crushed Shelbourne 4-0. Sligo remain joint-leaders after seeing off Monaghan, while Derry stay just one point behind after beating Cork, currently second-bottom with only one point from twelve. It was a good night for both Louth clubs, Drogheda overcoming Bray and Dundalk UCD, but the big match of the weekend is Bohs-Pats on Sunday, with a former urgently needing victory. Athlone and Limerick both won in the First to keep pressure on Longford and Waterford, who meet tonight.

A drab scoreless Dublin derby today leaves Bohs still bottom of the table, though level with Cork, by virtue of having failed to score this season.

Shamrock Rovers eventually secure a 2-0 win over Bohemians, while Sligo keep pace, by defeating Dundalk. Both Galway clubs are struggling badly in the First Division, with neither Salthill nor Mervue attaining a home attendance of 200 or more yet this season, so the return of Galway United looks inevitable next March.

It proved to be a long Good Friday for the Airtricity League champions, as St. Pats crucified Rovers 5-1, Sligo moving three points clear, with an away win over Bray. Drogheda are the real revelation of the campaign, joint-second with Rovers, victory over Monaghan pushing them into title contention, while Bohs climb off the bottom after beating Cork in Dalymount. Last year's hapless First Division basement battlers, Wexford Youths, are roaring into promotion contention, moving second with victory over Athlone, with the similarly unheralded Longford Town top after defeating Limerick away.

Gary Twigg once more leads the goalscoring charts, with 8 from 6, although Sligo's promising new signing from Pats, Gary North, continues last season's strong form with 6 strikes notched. Sligo still lead, despite being held by Derry in the North-West derby, while Monaghan's woes were displayed in a 6-0 thumping by Cork, a scoreline matched by Rovers against Drogheda. Bohs moved further away from the drop by overcoming UCD, while despite jason Byrne scoring against his old club, Bray remain second-bottom after losing to Shelbourne.

Hound of Ulster semi final second leg results:

Derry City 0-2 Shamrock Rovers (aggregate 3-2)

Sligo Rovers 2-1 aet Crusaders (aggregate 2-3)

Connie Markiewicz, WB Yeats, Mary O'Hara, Ray McSharry. Yer boys took the hell of a beating. It's Crusaders v Derry City in the er, Irish Republic's showpiece cup final. International glory doesn't quite beckon...

A dramatic game at the Showgrounds - Sligo took an early lead, Pats equalised in the second-half before missing an injury-time penalty which would have fired up a title challenge. Kerry's Billy Dennehy similarly missed from the spot, and while Twigg put Rovers ahead, a Derry leveller saw both sides patchy form continue. Monaghan remain rooted to the bottom after failing against Bray, Cork surprisingly beat Shels at Tolka, and Bohs climb to mid-table after overcoming Dundalk. Salthill fall to bottom of the First after Mervue pick up their first win against Finn Harps, while Longford move four points clear in the promotion race with victory in the Midlands "clasico" against Athlone, while Limerick lose another Munster derby against Waterford.

Sorry Dunc, been away for a while.

Following a chain of events, I was actually back in Dublin recently and was at the Crusaders game.

Nice bunch of fans came down and enjoyed a few pints and no doubt the win. Not a great game, but twas memorable to be back in Dalymount. Even had a pint in The Diggers on the way home.

Good luck in the final. Bohs fans have no love for Derry. [Nor them for us]

Thanks Gypsy, hope yer trip back to Anna Livia went well. Have a listen to Rocky Dev and the Rhythm Kings for me...

Anyway, I imagine DC will be too strong but you never know. Crues have rested the first team for the last couple of League games in preparation.

PS ye may have run into the politically correct Crues supporters club (also seen occasionally on NI away trips). Conscious of our often bad reputation abroad and lazy media stereotyping, they make an exaggerated show of politely clapping opponents' good play, standing up for the Soldier's Song and other anthems, and looking crestfallen if anyone produces a Union Jack or starts singing the Billy Boys ;)

Hahaha!

Rest assured I shall be wishing the Hatchetswell against the AbraKebabra Ear-Munchers.

Hey.

FAI Cup Draw:

Cherry Orchard (Dublin) v Longford Town
Drogheda United v Mayfield United (Cork)
Salthill Devon v Mervue United (Galway derby)
UCD v Phoenix FC (Dublin)
Shamrock Rovers v Limerick
Kildrum (Donegal) v Avondale (Cork)
Cork City v Athlone Town
Sligo v Monaghan
Blarney v Malahide
Everton (Cork) v Waterford
Dundalk v St. Pat's CY (Dublin, non-league)
Bray v Shelbourne
Crumlin v St. Pat's (Premier Division)
Derry v Finn Harps (Donegal - local derby)
Bohemians v Drumkeen (Donegal)
Douglas Hall (Cork) v Wexford

Derry-Harps and Rovers-Limerick look the ties of the round.

Ian Baraclough seems to have seamlessly filled Paul Cook's shoes, a North double firing Sligo four points clear of new second-place St. Pat's, whose 2-0 win at the Brandywell has surely finished Derry's challenge. Shelbourne and Cork are now comfortably midtable after easy wins over Monaghan and Dundalk respectively, Bray defeated Bohemians, while UCD came back from a 2-0 deficit to draw with Shamrock Rovers.

Great win for Bray yesterday. In other news, a story on extratime.ie is reporting irregular betting patterns on last night's Shels - Monaghan game. Seems there was a lot of bets placed on there being a penalty in the game, which there was - to Monaghan, for a blatant and needless handball (or so I am informed). Could be an investigation.