Rogers and McGrath help secure title as they chase cup glory

Published: Tue 24 Sep 2019, 9:12 AM

Last updated: Tue 24 Sep 2019, 10:41 AM

Meath duo Gary Rogers and Jamie McGrath can today savour the achievement of having helped Dundalk to another League of Ireland Premier title with a 3-2 win over Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park last night.

The victory ensured Dundalk clinched their fifth Premier title in six seasons with goals from Sean Hoare, Robbie Benson and Michael Duffy, who found the net with a spectacular effort.

McGrath featured for the Lilywhites against the Hoops and so did Rogers who made a brilliant save near the end to help preserve Dundalk's advantage.

The Meath duo and their team-mates can now add the league title to the EA Sports Cup they won earlier in the season - and they still have a chance to complete a treble with the FAI Cup up for graps.

Both Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers could meet each other in the final with Sligo Rovers and Bohemains also in the mix.

The Gypsies take on Shamrock Rovers in FAI Cup semi-final this Friday at Dalymount Park, 7.45pm in a Dublin derby that invariably sparkles with menace. Among the regulars for Bohemians this season is Skryne's James Finnerty while another Meath player to feature could be Evan Fergusion.

The 14-year-old from Bettystown was propelled into the international headlines when he made his first appearance in the League of Ireland for Bohemians during their 0-0 draw with Derry City in the Brandywell on Friday night.

Ferguson featured for Bohs during the summer's pre-season friendly with Chelsea and he made another huge forward stride when he came on in the dying stages in place of Luke Wade-Slater.

Shamrock Rovers are by some distance the front-runners when it comes to FAI Cup triumphs with 24 but next to them is Dundalk with 11 - and both clubs remain on course to win the venerable old trophy again this season.

The Lilywhites won the cup for the eleventh time last November defeating Cork City 2-1 in an exciting showdown at the Aviva with Gary Rogers and Jamie McGrath involved in engineering the victory.

Both teams could conceivable meet each other in this year's final as they are on opposite sides of the semi-final draw. Next Sunday Rogers, McGrath and the Lilywhites travel to take on Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds, 5pm. Both semi-finals will be live on RTE2.