Graham Burke bags winner as 10-man Shamrock Rovers edge towards title

Graham Burke proved the hero as champions Shamrock Rovers held firm to take a massive three points in a feisty Dublin derby at Tallaght Stadium.

A lively 7,879 - their biggest crowd of the season - were in situ to as 10-man Rovers took a huge step in retaining their title with matchwinner and sinner Burke proving the difference in a tense affair.

The hosts played out a surprising away 0-0 draw at a now-relegated UCD side, which left the door ajar for their title rivals to get within touching distance, but failure to do so by the chasing pack, meant the draw turned out to be a good point for Stephen Bradley's men who boasted a five-point lead prior to kick-off.

And it was the home side who went closest to opening the scoring just three minutes in when Roberto "Pico" Lopes rose highest in a crowded area but failed to direct Markus Poom's free-kick on target.

Damien Duff's Reds, in their third game in seven days, and off the back of a bruising away encounter at Dalymount on Monday night, settled into the game well as a tactical battle of attack versus defence ensued.

With little in the way of goalmouth action in the cagey affair, Hull loanee Will Jarvis looked very sharp on the left for Shels, causing chaos with his pace up against Ronan Finn, but just lacked that final ball.

Following a brief stoppage just after the half-hour mark when referee Damien MacGraith needed replacing, the game sprung to life.

Lincoln City-bound Jack Moylan showed great strength to steal the ball from Sean Kavanagh, and on the break slipped in Harry Wood. The young English attacker patiently waited for JJ Lunney on the overlap but on his favoured left foot inside the box, failed to trouble Alan Mannus.

Rovers went straight down the other end and the