Shamrock Rovers 0
St Pat’s 2
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Shamrock Rovers tonight in Tallaght Stadium thanks to goals in either half from Billy Dennehy and Christy Fagan.
In an opening half that saw Rovers dominate it was a first effort for St Pat’s that led to the opening goal on the stroke of half time when Billy Dennehy headed in Graham Kelly’s corner kick at the back post.
Up until then the visitors had looked lacklustre in attack, while the Hoops had speculative efforts from Gary Shaw and Danny North.
Simon Madden was their main threat, and when he fizzed a low delivery across the six-yard box after 10 minutes David Cawley did well to clear his lines.
In the second half it was once again the home team who started brightly, but they failed to penetrate and were punished again on 56 minutes.
Mark Timlin swept the ball in from the right and Christy Fagan forced his way to the near post in front of his marker to head in for his fourth goal of the season.
Then came the big talking point. Simon Madden went down under the challenge of Ian Bermingham in the box and Tomas Connolly pointed to the penalty spot, only to change his decision after consultation with his linesman.
Pat Fenlon looked perplexed with the call, but it stood, and after that Pat’s defended well as Rovers attempted to unlock what looked like a reasonably solid Saints defence.
The closest the home team came was with seven minutes left to play when Miele’s corner kick was almost forced in but for the hand of Brendan Clarke that palmed the ball away from danger.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Madden, Blanchard, O’Connor, G Brennan, McCabe, Cregg, Shaw, Drennan (T Clarke), North (D Clarke, 72), Miele. SUBS: Hyland, Cornwall, Webster, D Clarke, T Clarke, Purdy, McCaffrey.
St Patrick’s Athletics: Clarke, O’Brien, Bermingham, (Hoare, 90+2) D Dennehy, Cawley, Treacy (Verdon, 77), Timlin (Byrne, 75), Kelly, McEleney, Fagan, B Dennehy. SUBS: O’Malley, Hoare, Byrne, Corcoran, McGlade, Verdon, McGuinness.
