League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 2 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

By Dave Donnelly at Richmond Park

St Patrick's Athletic did their chances of keeping their unblemished record of survival in the Premier Division with a thrilling 2-0 victory over southside rivals Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park.

The Saints arrived into the game on the back of a morale-sapping 3-2 defeat to Bohemians on Friday while Rovers had easily disposed on Finn Harps in Tallaght.

“You're going down” was the chant of choice from the sizeable away crowd but by the end of the first half they were silenced by retorts of “shut up, we're staying up.”

Headers from captain Ian Bermingham, returning from a one-game suspension, and Paul O'Conor sealed a well-deserved victory that leaves Liam Buckley's side two points clear of the drop zone.

An opening few minutes high on intensity but low on quality saw Fagan booked for a needless trip on Roberto Lopes as both sides sought to disrupt the other in their own half.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors after as Ryan Connolly's found Gary Shaw's run to the near post but, with the keeper beaten, Shaw could only glance his header across goal.

The Newbridge man had opened the scoring the first time the sides met this season in March, but he was upstaged by Saints' returning captain Ian Bermingham with 19 minutes on the clock.

Killian Brennan found Conan Byrne with a short free kick and the winger cut back on his weaker left before swinging in a cross the unmarked Bermingham sent looping into the corner.

And the Saints should have made it two on the half-hour as Christy Fagan found himself one-on-one with Tomer Chencinski, but his shot hit the covering Roberto Lopes on the line.

A brilliant piece of skill from Brandon Miele created the chance for an equaliser as he set Shaw free, but Jordi Balk outworked Cameron King to get to his low cross with the goal gaping.

Pats took full advantage of the let-off and Conan Byrne was again the creator, crossing right-footed for an unmarked Paul O'Conor to power a downward header past a helpless Chencinski.

It was no less than the Saints deserved for their superior quality in the opening half, but the Hoops could and should have pulled one back in injury time at the end of the first half.

Ryan Connolly was the wasteful one right on half time as he was sent clear on goal but goalkeeper Lukas Skowron was out quickly to get his body in the way of his low effort.

Stephen Bradley introduced teenagers Aaron Bolger and James Doona in an effort to turn the game, and the latter's shot after cutting in from the left should have seen the Hoops pull one back.

As the unconvincing Skowron mishandled his low effort, Shaw only had to slot the ball into an empty goal but his effort was somehow deflected behind.

Skowron did redeem himself moments later, however, as Simon Madden crossed for the arriving Lopes and the keeper pulled off a top-class stop to touch the ball onto the crossbar.

The Pole was again called into action to deny Ronan Finn ten minutes from time, tipping the captain's rattler from distance over the bar.

The visiting fans serenaded the home fans at the death with chants of “you're still going down” but, with their own grip on third place less than secure, both sides have plenty of work still to do.

St Patrick's Athletic: Lukas Skowron; Graham Kelly, Lee Desmond, Jordi Balk, Ian Bermingham; Killian Brennan, Owen Garvan, Conan Byrne (Ian Turner 90), Billy Dennehy, Paul O'Conor (Darragh Markey 65); Christy Fagan (Kurtis Byrne 86).

Subs not used: Pat Jennings (gk), Michael Barker, JJ Lunney, Ian Turner, Kurtis Byrne, Josh O'Hanlon.

Booked: Christy Fagan (3), Paul O'Conor (20), Jordi Balk (35), Owen Garvan (89).

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski; Simon Madden, Roberto Lopes (Sam Bone 71), Lee Grace, Luke Byrne; Dave Webster (James Doona 57), Ronan Finn, Ryan Connolly, Cameron King (Aaron Bolger 46), Brandon Miele; Gary Shaw.

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan (gk), Dean Carpente, Michael O'Connor, Sean Boyd.

Booked: Luke Byrne (68).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 2,361.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Conan Byrne (St Patrick's Athletic).