Shelbourne have confirmed their promotion from the First Division with a 3-1 victory over Drogheda, while in the Premier Division both Dublin clubs pushing for Europe dropped points.
It was a sold-out crowd at United Park for the First Division's colossal first-versus-second clash between Shelbourne and Drogheda.
Shelbourne had spent the last six years seeking to return to the Premier Division, and it was finally the turn of the north Dublin side to return to the big time.
A win was enough for Shels, while Drogheda were also chasing a win to keep their aim of automatic promotion alive going into the last round of fixtures.
Goals from Aidan Friel, Oscar Brennan and Lorcan Fitzgerald ensured Ian Morris was the happier of the two managers after Drogheda's hopes disintegrated with Sean Brennan's sending-off for a second yellow card early in the second half.
Back where we belong pic.twitter.com/UhRKvepIRU
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) September 13, 2019
In the Premier Division, European challengers St. Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians were both playing at home against teams below them in the table. St. Pat's, led by new manager Stephen O'Donnell in his first game at Richmond Park, were held to a scoreless draw in a disappointing night against last-placed UCD.
Meanwhile, in Dalymount Park, the Gypsies also dropped points with a 2-1 loss to Waterford United.
Bohemians had gone into half-time 1-0 down after poor defending from a corner allowed Rory Feely to head home for the visitors, but Ross Tierney equalised just ten minutes after the break and the home side looked set to push on for a winner.
That was until a long-distance strike from Tom Holland found its way past goalkeeper James Talbot via the underside of the Bohemian's bar with just six minutes to go.
Bohemians pushed forward late in the game – even Talbot found himself in the opposing box looking for an equaliser from the last free-kick of the game. However, it wasn't to be for Keith Long's men as Waterford managed to clear the final attacks and Bohs' claims for a handball at the death were waved away by referee Neil Doyle.
Elsewhere in the Premier Divison, Sligo Rovers returned to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Finn Harps who look increasingly doomed to the promotion/relegation play-off after three losses in a row.
In the other First Division results, Galway United beat Cobh Ramblers 7-1 at home, Cabinteely beat Athlone 3-1 in Stradbrook and Wexford lost 4-1 away to Limerick.
