Round 12 of the 2026 Premier Division could be a telling tale for the rest of the season, Shamrock Rovers have begun to ascend at the top of the table and Dundalk are having their say in the race for Europe.
It was an obvious pick for Virgin Media this weekend, with the Dublin Debry being broadcasted across the nation with Damien Duff and Brian Kerr in studio. The biggest game in Irish football failed to disappoint.
Graham Burke’s first-half brace proved to be the difference, though it was achieved in controversial fashion. Burke converted from the spot for his second, after the referee had deemed Dawson Devoy to have fouled Danny Grant.
Grant did fantastically to get the ball into the box, carrying it into space before gliding past Darragh Power and before he had the opportunity to shoot, the former Bohs man went down. Devoy protested claiming the contact was made by Grant, but the beauty of the League of Ireland and VAR free football is that once the referee makes his decision, it’s final.
Bohs did come close before the hour mark, Patrick Hickey and Senan Mullan both hitting the woodwork in a matter of seconds.
Alan Reynolds men would get a penalty of their own, a decision many would struggle to argue with. Colm Whelan converted to put himself as the Premier Division top scorer but it wasn’t enough to bring any points home from a trip to Tallaght.
Elsewhere, Dundalk continued their remarkable unbeaten run. The newly promoted side were tipped by many to be facing a difficult relegation battle, but, Ciaran Kilduff’s men haven’t lost since February and after Friday nights victory over Galway United, the Lillywhites sit third in the table.
Tyreke Wilson will be in strong contention for signing of the season, he set up Dundalk’s opener. Daryl Horgan did briliantly to slip in the former Shelbourne player, with the fullback driving the ball across the box and putting it on a plate for the onrushing Declan McDaid.
McDaid would get his second just a handful of minutes later, again at the back-post to easily convert.
While McDaid’s goal-scoring exploits were nothing more then routine, Stephen Walsh fired in an incredible acrobatic effort that is sure to be in the goal of the season conversation. It proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the Tribesmen.
An unbelievable effort by Stephen Walsh flies into the back of the Dundalk net!
Galway are back in it with just a few minutes left on the clock. pic.twitter.com/kSMlA4LqsV
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) April 17, 2026
Derry City made the trip to Tolka Park to face Shelbourne with both sides in desperate need of a win.
Joey O’Brien’s side will have been frustrated with their start to the season, with individual errors costing them points on several occasions. That was the case yet again against Derry.
Both of the away sides goals came from Shels failing to properly clear their lines. Damien Duff was full of praise for O’Brien in an interview with the Irish Independent, and on Friday night stuck up for his former assistant manager claiming the players were letting him down.
“I think they’re letting him down at the minute.”
Damien Duff with a blunt assessment of Shelbourne’s performance, saying the players need to step up for Joey O’Brien #LOI #shelbournefc pic.twitter.com/68lhXYjmhS
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 17, 2026
Shelbourne are yet to win at home this season, picking up just three points. They sit level on points with Waterford at the bottom of the home form table.
St. Patrick’s Athletic are firmly on the tails of Shamrock Rovers, with Stephen Kenny’s men in search of a first Premier Division title since 2013.
After back-to-back losses to Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, Pats bounced back with a comfortable 3-1 win away to Drogheda United.
Aidan Keena gave his side the lead in the 36th second with a superb strike from outside the box. Kian Leavy took control of the match, he was found in space where his attempted cross deflected off Conor Keeley into the back of the net.
He didn’t need any luck for St Pats third goal, tidily getting past a Drogheda player before bending the ball threw Keeley’s legs and into the bottom right corner.
While St Pats chase the title, Sligo Rovers and Waterford chase survival. Waterford may feel slightly aggrieved that they failed to pick up any points, having 16 shots in the match, accumulating an expected goals of 1.31.
As has been the case throughout the campaign, the Waterford defence proved costly. A couple of quick Sligo passes cut apart the Waterford backline for the opener and Jordan Houston put the ball in his own net for the second.
A sizeable gap has emerged at the bottom of the table, and the Blues will have to respond quickly if they want to be playing Premier Division football for a fourth successive season.