European hopes alive

National League Premier Division/Shamrock Rovers 3; St Patrick's Athletic 5: St Patrick's Athletic's tenuous hopes of European qualification remain intact after this hugely entertaining win at Tolka Park. The Inchicore side's season may still be alive, but Rovers' is very much over.

In a riveting match you couldn't take your eyes off, Rovers' defence was caught napping as St Patrick's carved them open for two excellently taken goals inside two minutes early on.

Paul Rose's swift ball forward from the halfway line found Aidan O'Keeffe and the debutant put Gary McPhee in on goal for the 15th-minute opener. McPhee could scarcely believed his good fortune when Keith Doyle's misplaced header from Chris Adamson's punt put him through and again he kept his head to send the ball into the net off the far upright.

Rovers were in disarray at the back now and the inventive Rose shot narrowly wide minutes later. Questionable defending at the other end got Rovers back into the game with a goal out of nothing on 25 minutes. Little appeared on as Stephen Grant fed Shane Robinson on the right and the winger's speculative low drive from some 30 yards beat Adamson.

Rovers dominated until the interval but fell further behind within eight minutes of the restart form a soft goal; Shane Davoren spilled a header from O'Keeffe and Rose scooped home the loose ball. Trevor Molloy led the Rovers revival when heading home Stephen Grant's 59th minute corner.

But St Patrick's punished slack marking again as O'Keeffe collected a throw on the left to turn and shoot in off the far post. Refusing to lie down, Rovers hit back and substitute Tony Grant latched on to a deflection from a Glen Fitzpatrick shot to fire home to make it 4-3.

Keith Foy scored the fifth St Patrick's goal from the penalty spot 20 minutes from time.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Davoren; Croly, Palmer, Deans (A Grant, 63 mins.), Doyle; Robinson, Colwell (Boughanem, 82 mins), Tracey, S Grant; Molloy, Fitzpatrick (Keddy, 75 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; Maguire, Foley, Delaney, Donnelly (Foy, 53 mins); McPhee, Prenderville, Osam, Dunne; O'Keeffe (Murphy, 68 mins), Rose (Quinn, 82 mins).

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).