Sport

Prolific Twigg rewarded with extended contract

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shamrock Rovers 2: SHAMROCK ROVERS have agreed an extension to Gary Twigg’s contract

Mon Jul 06 2009 - 01:00

St Patrick's Athletic 1 Shamrock Rovers 2:SHAMROCK ROVERS have agreed an extension to Gary Twigg's contract. The striker scored a fourth brace of the season to extent their unbeaten league run to eight games and restore them to third place in the table.

Glaswegian Twigg signed a three-year deal when joining from Brechin City in February, but such has been his impact, Rovers are desperate to keep hold of the 25-year-old whose double at Richmond Park on Saturday night brought his tally for the season to 15, joint leading scorer with Bohemians’ Jason Byrne.

“People here didn’t know what they were getting, but I knew what I was getting,” said Rovers’ manager Michael O’Neill of Twigg. “What we’ve paid for Gary and what he’s given us. . . He’s in the process now of signing an extended long-term contract with the club. He’s already on a long-term contract and we’ve agreed on another longer term contract. He’s very happy here. He’s loving his football and his relationship with the club.”

Depleted St Patrick’s dominated possession in the first half, but struggled in front of goal. And Twigg clinically showed them how to finish with his first sight of goal at the other end on 42 minutes.

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Tadhg Purcell and Dessie Baker in turned headed on Sean O’Connor’s free-kick and Twigg volleyed confidently past Gary Rogers from close range.

Twigg’s second strike on 69 minutes was equally as clinical as he scarcely broke his stride to drive home O’Connor’s pull-back from the left. Sub Alan Calwey slotted home an 81st minute penalty after Stephen Maher had been tripped by Aidan Price. But it was mere consolation for St Patrick’s who slumped to a third league defeat in four games.

“It’s great to keep the run going,” said Twigg. “As for the two goals, they were two great set-ups for me and I managed to get the strikes in and it was great to see the ball ending up in the back of the net. These are really exciting times for the club with the friendlies against Newcastle United and Real Madrid.”

ST PATRICK’S ATH: Rogers; Haverty, Gavin, Harris (Cawley, 50 mins), Stevens; Maher, O’Connor, Byrne, Ryan (Moran, 84 mins.); Guy, Fitzpatrick.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Flynn, Sives, Price, Bermingham; Purcell, Bradley (McGill, 81 mins.), Robinson, O’Connor (Amond, 87 mins); Baker (Cowan, 87 mins), Twigg.

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).