Rovers stand firm to frustrate dominant St Patrick’s

St Patrick's Athletic 0 Shamrock Rovers 0: An improvement on their 3-0 defeat at Tallaght Stadium in March it may have been, but there was no complete reversal in fortune for St Patrick's as they had to settle for a frustrating point before their biggest home crowd of the season.

It does move Liam Buckley’s side above Derry City to second in the table, though reigning champions Sligo Rovers will be happy the result leaves them three points clear at the top.

Trevor Croly’s Shamrock Rovers side had to play second fiddle for much of the game and they still await their first away win in the league this season.

Roverswere fortunate not to have conceded as early as the third minute. St Patrick’s striker Christy Fagan got to the end line to cross. And though a slip by a defender allowed Chris Forrester possession to turn and shoot, Rovers’ captain Pat Sullivan got across decisively to take the sting out of the shot to allow Barry Murphy make a save.

Murphy was there again two minutes later to get down well to save a low drive from Fagan.

Making his first start in nine games in the only change in the St Patrick’s line-up, Fagan was well up for the task in hand and only another brave block by Derek Foran prevented his effort hitting the target on 20 minutes after good approach play between Forrester and left-back Ian Bermingham.

Fagan should have put a dominant St Patrick's ahead on 29 minutes. Forrester's delightful pass put John Russell in on the left to set up Fagan who fired his shot over the top.

Far post
Croly had to wait until the 35th minute to see his side threaten. And that from a free-kick when Jason McGuinness planted a header from a Sean O'Connor delivery wide at the far post.

Half-time brought a switch in referees as Tom Connolly replaced Graham Kelly, while Rovers lost Sullivan six minutes in to injury.

St Pat’s remained in control though and Russell was narrowly wide with a downward header after further skilful play on the right involved Ger O’Brien and Fagan prior to Conan Byrne’s cross. Their frustration in front of goal was mounting, however, as Killian Brennan fired a free-kick just over after 70 minutes.

Six minutes later St Pat's goalkeeper Brendan Clarke did well to parry away a 30-yard effort from Danny Ledwith. Ciaran Kilduff fired the rebound wide. Ledwith soon limped off leaving Rovers to play the last ten minutes with ten men but although St Pat's s pressed forward the Hoops stood firm.
ST PATRICK'S ATH: Clarke; O'Brien, Kenna, Browne, Bermingham; Russell, Bolger, Brennan; Byrne (Kelly, 79 mins.), Fagan, Forrester.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Sullivan (Robinson, 51 mins.), Foran, McGuinness, Ledwith; Chambers (Kilduff, 75 mins.); Finn, Rice; O'Connor, Sheppard, Dennehy (McCabe, 58 mins.).
Attendance: 2,410.
Referee: GKelly (Cork) ( Tom Connolly ht)