St Patrick’s Athletic 2
Shamrock Rovers 0
Dave Donnelly reports from Richmond Park
IF ST PATRICK’S Athletic avoid a historic first-ever relegation this season they’ll look back to seven points taken from Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers.
The Saints earned a second win of the season over the Hoops thanks to first-half headers from unlikely sources in returning captain Ian Bermingham and Paul O’Conor.
The first chance of the game fell the Hoops’ way as Gary Shaw – who scored the opener here in March – glanced Ryan Connolly’s centre across the face of goal with ten minutes played.
It was the home side who took the lead nine minutes later, however, left-back Bermingham showing Shaw how it’s done with a superb header that looped over keeper Tomer Chencinski.
Christy Fagan might have doubled the advantage on the half-hour as he was presented with a one-on-one from close range but, with Chencinski beaten, Roberto Lopes got back to clear on the line.
Pat’s may have regretted that as a piece of Brandon Miele magic put Shaw in space and he threaded a ball across goal but, with Cameron King looking to pounce, Jordi Balk brilliantly hooked clear.
Conan Byrne worked his magic again shortly after, crossing right-footed this time for O’Conor, who could hardly miss with a downward header from six yards.
Shaw conspired to miss an open goal after the break when Skowron failed to hold James Doona’s shot, before the keeper redeemed himself by touching Lopes’ goalbound header onto the bar.
Ronan Finn saw a shot tipped over late on but Pats saw the game out comfortably to move two points clear of the drop.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Skowron; Kelly, Desmond, Balk, Bermingham; Brennan, Garvan, C Byrne (Turner 90), Dennehy, O’Conor (Markey 65); Fagan (K Byrne 86).
Shamrock Rovers: Chencinski; Madden, Lopes (Bone 71), Grace, L Byrne; Webster (James Doona 57), Finn, Connolly, King (Bolger 46), Miele; Shaw.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
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