Shamrock Rovers started the defence of their league title with a 3-1 home win over Dundalk.

It was 10 men Dundalk who opened the scoring in the 44^th minute through a Jason Byrne penalty after Dan Murray had fouled Byrne in the 18 yard box.  But the lead only lasted two minutes as Gary McCabe scored with a shot from the edge of the area in first half injury time.

The champions took the lead five minutes after the restart as Gary Twigg headed in past substitute keeper Paul Murphy.  Twigg wrapped up the scoring six minutes later when he fired in his second and Rovers' third of the night.

Elsewhere Bohemians came from behind against Bray to record a 3-1 win at the Carlisle Grounds, St Patrick's Athletic scored three second half goals to beat Galway United 3-0 at Terryland Park, Aaron Greene scored the only goal as Sligo Rovers beat Derry City 1-0 at the Brandywell and UCD had a 1-0 success over Drogheda United.

Rovers' Gary Twigg scores against Paul Murphy

BRAY WANDERERS 1-3 BOHEMIANS

Killian Brennan in action for Bohemians

Bohemians' keeper Craig Sexton on his league debut

St Patrick's Athletic's Daryl Kavanagh in action against Galway United's Sean Kelly

In the first division Shelbourne came from 1-0 down to record a 2-1 success at Flancare Park, Cork City had a 1-0 home win over Wexford Youths, Waterford United were held to a scoreless draw by Athlone Town, Finn Harps and Limerick both finished with 10 men in a 2-2 draw and Mervue United beat Salthill Devon in the local Galway derby at Drom.

RESULTS & FIXTURES

Monday 28 February 2011

Setanta Sports Cup - 1^st Round, 2^nd Leg

Lisburn Distillery 2-0 UCD

Dundalk 1-1 Linfield

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Setanta Sports Cup - 1^st Round, 1^st Leg

Bohemians 1-2 Portadown

Setanta Sports Cup - 1^st Round, 2^nd Leg

St Patrick's Athletic 2-0 Cliftonville

Cliftonville win 3-2 on aggregate

Friday 4 March 2011

Airtricity League - Premier Division

Bray Wanderers 1-2 Bohemians

Derry City 0-1 Sligo Rovers

Drogheda United 0-1 UCD

Galway United 0-2 St Patrick's Athletic

Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Dundalk

First Division

Cork City 1-0 Wexford Youths

Waterford Utd 0-0 Athlone Town

Finn Harps 2-2 Limerick FC

Saturday 5 March 2011

Airtricity League - First Division

Salthill Devon 1-2 Mervue United

Longford Town 1-2 Shelbourne

Setanta Sports Cup - 1^st Round, 2^nd Leg

Portadown 2-0 Bohemians

Portadown win 4-1 on aggregate

Setanta Sports Cup - Quarter-Final, 1^st Leg

Glentoran 0-1 Dundalk

FIXTURES

Friday 11 March 2011

Airtricity League - Premier Division

Bohemians v Drogheda United, Dalymount Park

Dundalk v Galway United, Oriel Park

St Patrick's Athletic v Bray Wanderers, Richmond Park

UCD v Derry City, UCD Bowl

First Division

Limerick v Salthill Devon, Jackman Park

Mervue United v Cork City, Fahy's Field

Monaghan United v Waterford United, Gortakeegan

Wexford Youths v Longford Town, Ferrycarrig Park

Saturday 12 March 2011

Airtricity League - Premier Division

Sligo Rovers v Shamrock Rovers, The Showgrounds

First Division

Athlone Town v Finn Harps, Athlone Town Stadium