But once underway it was destined not to be Shelbourne's night on their first ever league visit to the Dublin 24 venue.

Visiting keeper Dean Delaney was sent off after just four minutes for taking down Billy Dennehy and Gary Twigg duly fired the spot kick past replacement keeper Paul Skinner.

A Stephen Hurley own goal on 32 minutes and a fiercely hit shot from Ronan Finn made it 3-0, and all over as a contest, by half-time.

Aaron Greene added a fourth goal on 73 minutes when he punished a sloppy back past by Ian Ryan.

The only negative for Rovers on the night was winger Gary McCabe being sent off for a second booking on 82 minutes.

A solitary Danny North goal edged Sligo Rovers into second place, behind their Dublin rivals goal difference, as they beat Monaghan United 1-0 at Gortakeegan to record a third win on the spin.

The only goal came on 49 minutes when striker North latched onto a short back pass to run through and shoot past Chris Bennion.

Derry City got back to winning ways to beat Cork Ctiy 2-0 at the Brandywell.

Mark Farren put the Candystripes in front four minutes into the second half when running onto Barry Molloy's defence splitting pass to shoot beyond keeper Mark McNulty.

A howler by McNulty, when he misjudged a ball over the top, gifted Stephen McLaughlin's Derry's second goal four minutes later.

Drogheda United beat Bray Wanderers 4-2 in a frantic game at the Carlisle Grounds as the home side finished with ten men.

Dean Marshall scored the fastest goal of the season when putting Drogheda in front after just 32 seconds.

Bray battled back and levelled seven minutes into the second half with veteran striker Jason Byrne scoring from Kieran Waters' cross.

But Brian Gannon restored Drogheda's lead on 63 minutes before Bray defender Dane Massey was shown a straight red card for appearing to stamp on Gannon just two minutes later.

Drogheda substitutes Sean Brennan and Declan O'Brien scored in quick succession to seal the points for Mick Cooke's side. Dean Zambra got a second goal for Bray on 78 minutes when his free kick deceived Drogheda keeper Gabriel Sava.

Dundalk scored their first goals of the season to earn their first win in beating UCD 2-1 at Oriel Park.

Chris Shields headed home from Nathan Murphy's free-kick to give Sean McCaffrey's side the lead six minutes into the second half.

Four minutes later Dundalk doubled that lead when Shane O'Neill headed Michael Rafter's pass over Mark McGinley in the college goal.

UCD got a goal back on 67 minutes, Graham Rusk scoring from the penalty spot after he'd been fouled by Dundalk keeper Peter Cherrie.