Rory Gaffney provided an assist before scoring a sublime second as Limerick burst Shamrock Rovers' bubble with a 2-0 win in their Premier Division clash at Thomond Park tonight.
The defeat, which ended six straight wins in all competitions, is a major setback to Rovers' hopes of Europa League qualification via the league as they remain six points behind fourth-placed Derry City with a game more played.
Rovers, with a remarkable nine changes to the team that lifted the EA Sports Cup on Saturday night, fell behind after 11 minutes.
Gaffney's long throw found its way to midfielder Jason Hughes who controlled it well before blasting past Hoops' keeper Barry Murphy.
Striker Gaffney then hit a glorious second goal on 68 minutes, finding time and space on the left before beating Murphy with a superb curling shot.
Danny Morrissey scored at late winner as Cork City recovered from blowing a 2-0 lead to beat Drogheda United 3-2 at Hunky Dorys Park.
Ciaran Kilduff put Cork ahead on 11 minutes when strike partner Morrissey pounced on a poor pass to play him in to shoot past Gabriel Sava.
City doubled their lead four minutes later when Kilduff turned provider to set up midfielder Shane Duggan to score.
Drogheda wasted an opportunity to get back into the game on the half hour mark when Ryan Brennan fired wide from the penalty spot.
Midfielder Brennan made amends for his miss, however, to pull a goal back on the blow of half-time.
Peter Hynes completed Drogheda's comeback to punish poor defending and level the scores eight minutes into the second half.
But Cork responded late on with Morrissey hitting the winner on 87 minutes to leapfrog Drogs into sixth place in the table.