St. Patrick’s Athletic will now feel almost certain they have only one pursuer capable of pouncing on any potential slip on the home stretch of this year’s League of Ireland Premier Division season, but worryingly for The Saints, those pursuers are engaging in a relentless pursuit. Dundalk's stride remains unchecked as they have once again taken 3 points when 1 would have been expected, and perhaps accepted.

Last night at Oriel Park, Stephen Kenny’s side added another bewildering performance to this year’s portfolio as they defeated reigning champions Sligo Rovers by two goals to nil, and in the process almost certainly extinguished hopes of consecutive titles in the west. The Lillywhites took victory thanks to a Pat Hoban strike in the first half and a goal from Chris Shields in the second.

The Louth side have now taken 19 points from their last 7 league games and regardless of their final position this season - coming as it has directly after a year when the club came perilously close to extinction and fielded one of the weakest Premier Division sides in recent memory - looks certain to be an unqualified success.

St. Pat’s did their part on the night, winning 1-0 at home to Shelbourne with Stephen Maher capitalising on a mistake from Shels’ goalkeeper Niall Burdon just before half-time to score the decisive goal. Liam Buckley's side are returning to title winning form after something of a blip in recent weeks, but the unflinching challenge from the north can only add to the pressure felt at the thoughts of a first league title in 14 years - a period during which that drougt of silverware was amplified as each of St. Pat's major rivals enjoyed periods of huge success on the pitch.

Across Dublin, Shelbourne’s misery was compounded as Bohs took a massive 1-0 win over bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers in Dalymount. A goal in the third minute from Dave Mulcahy was followed by a heroic defensive display that wrapped up 3 crucial points to take Bohs off the foot of the table and leave Shamrock Rovers fans wondering how they have come to the point of facing a second consecutive year without European Football.

UCD were another relegation threatened side to take a vital win, winning 3-1 away to Limerick to lift them 5 points clear of the bottom two sides – Shelbourne and Bray. Bray were left propping up the table – behind Shelbourne on goal difference – thanks to a late winner from Cork’s Ciaran Kilduff at the Carlisle Grounds.

Elsewhere Derry effectively ended their own faint hopes of a title win with a 2-0 loss at home to Drogheda. Goals from Gavin and Ryan Brennan were enough to leave the Brandywell faithful now thinking of European adventures next summer, rather than titles this winter.

League of Ireland Premier Division results

Dundalk 2-0 Sligo Rovers

St. Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 Shelbourne

Bohemians 1-0 Shamrock Rovers

Bray 1-2 Cork City

Limerick 1-3 UCD

Derry City 0-2 Drogheda

League of Ireland Premier Division table

                               P. Pts.  

1 St. Patrick's Athletic 24 53
2 Dundalk                 25 52
3 Sligo Rovers           24 46
4 Derry City               24 45
5 Shamrock Rovers    25 36
6 Cork City                25 30
7 Drogheda United    24 29
8 Limerick                25 29
9 UCD                      25 25
10 Bohemian FC        25 21
11 Shelbourne           25 20
12 Bray Wanderers    25 20

Image: Dundalk's Richie Towell celebrates after Chris Shields scores a goal
©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan