After Drogheda United extended their lead at the top on Friday, it was up to the chasing quartet to keep the damage to a minimum over the rest of the weekend.

As it turned out, Cobh Ramblers and Kilkenny City gained the most while Galway United and Longford Town suffered a further slip.

The visit to Strokestown Road to face Longford on Saturday provided Cobh with maximum points to leave them two points clear in second. Anthony Keneally claimed the only goal when he completed a hectic Cobh attack right on half time. Paul Coghlan had seen his header pushed against the crossbar by Stephen O'Brien in the Longford goal but Keneally was first in for the relatively simple finish.

Longford made a spirited comeback in the second half although Alan O'Shea was keeping everything out in the opposite goal and they were unable to find a response. The result drops them into fifth position and seven points short of the promotion place.

Kilkenny, meanwhile, restored their promotion chances with a late equaliser against Galway at Buckley Park. Having finished their FAI Cup run last weekend, Galway shifted all their focus into promotion and for much of this game they appeared to be heading the right way. Darra Sheridan and Gareth Gorman both came within inches in the first half although it was 64 minutes before they finally scored when a free kick by Gorman was sent around the wall and into the corner of the net.

Battling injuries as well as the deficit, Kilkenny surprised even themselves when John Power finished Paul Cashin's free a minute into injury time to end it on level terms.

Home Farm/Everton continued their disappointing form with a scoreless draw against Monaghan United yesterday and they remain just above second last having gone five games without a win.