Shamrock Rovers vs St Patrick's Athletic

2022 - 10 - 21

Shamrock Rovers on brink of Premier Division title after another ... (The42)

St Patrick's Athletic took an early lead before the Hoops cruised to a 4-1 win in front of 7469 supporters at Tallaght Stadium.

It was a reminder of the kind of madness that can engulf these fixtures at this stage but a comedy handball on the line from Breslin, completely misjudging a headed clearance and resulting in a straight red, ensured Burke could rifle his second penalty of the night into the top right corner. It was nothing spectacular but clinical in its almost monotonous nature. Rovers were forced into an early change when Byrne had to be withdrawn for Dylan Watts and it was the replacement’s corner kick that led to the all-important third in the 54th. Once again, Atakayi was the player with the chance, striding onto Forrester’s cross from the right but blazing over his shot from a central area on the edge of the area. It led to a manic few minutes in which the Saints goalkeeper and striker Eoin Doyle were booked for the manner of their complaints, while down the other end of the pitch Adam O’Reilly was cautioned for a lunge that Lyons jumped to avoid. Considering the nature of the infringement which led to the award of the spot kick, referee Rob Hennessy and his assistant on the far side missed Burke pushing Forrester in the back just as the midfielder was set to clear the ball which Cleary then rifled through Rogers’ legs having seen his initial header saved.

Rovers hit Saints for four to put one hand back on the title (Irish Examiner)

Serge Atakayi gave the hosts an early scare before they roared back to all but extinguish the title race.

Towell and Watts both came close to making it five as Saints prayed for the end. The short-lived drama of this title race was beautifully summed up midway through the half as the home fans celebrated Shels taking the lead at the Brandywell seconds before Saints were awarded a penalty for a handball. However, substitute Tunde Owolabi's effort was the sort of strike the keeper saves as long as he guesses right. His replacement Dylan Watts is no mug and had his shot cleared for a corner as Rovers pressed for a third. The Hoops led just before half-time – and it was due. A beautiful Lopes pass fed Andy Lyons and he played in Burke; Joe Redmond need not have made a rash challenge but he did – and there was little doubt that the technician Burke would score.

Shamrock Rovers get over early scare against St Pat's to tighten grip ... (The Irish Times)

Graham Burke scores two penalties as Stephen Bradley's side open up eight-point lead at the top.

The Hoops cup spilled over in the next few seconds as word filtered down that Jack Moylan had put Shels ahead before Alan Mannus saved a poor penalty from St Pat’s sub Tunde Owolabi. St Pat’s struggled without suspended manager Tim Clancy in the dug out as Bradley made a decisive call five minutes into the second half, replacing Byrne with Dylan Watts. Cleary almost sliced a Mark Doyle cross into his own net before scoring up the other end in first-half injury-time. At least Burke and Chris Forrester appear to be going nowhere. Replays confirmed that Burke was fouled in the box by Ireland under-21 centre half Joe Redmond with 34 minutes played. On this evidence Curtis won’t be long for the League of Ireland either.

Shamrock Rovers on the brink after 4-1 win over St Patrick's Athletic (Irish Mirror)

Graham Burke equalised from the penalty spot before Daniel Cleary put the Hoops ahead in the dying moments of the first-half. Sean Hoare stretched that lead ...

News of Shels’ goal in Derry ripped through the ground like an electric surge and heightened the giddiness only for St Pat’s to win a penalty at precisely the same time. It was enough to unsettle the Saints ace and Cleary couldn’t believe his luck when getting a second chance - this time drilling through Rogers’ legs in a crowded box. Joe Redmond clipped Burke with a clumsy challenge in the box when latching onto a Lyons ball and Burke equalised from the spot. The ball just wouldn’t fall their way - but then Rovers upped the ante and cashed in by transforming their possession for something far more tangible. But in a game where the entertainment levels were off the charts, the Rovers response was both impressive and relentless and had the fans singing about ‘that’s why we’re champions’ The Hoops came alive at a rocking Tallaght Stadium and launched a remarkable comeback to fillet one of the league’s form sides in ruthless and brutal fashion.

Shamrock Rovers edge towards third title in a row with impressive ... (Independent.ie)

When St Patrick's Athletic took the lead inside five minutes at Tallaght Stadium, the feelings of anxiety in the stands were palpable.

Another cross to the far post was treated casually and Atakayi ghosted into space again but, on this occasion, he blasted high into the construction works in the North Stand behind the goal. Rovers regrouped and extended their advantage before the hour mark with another dead ball exposing indecision in the Saints rearguard and Seán Hoare capitalising after McCann and Lopes were denied. The Saints started well, despite switching to a back four due to enforced absences with Paddy Barrett in for a first league start of the season. Redmond protested, but it was easy to see the ref’s logic on this occasion and Burke slotted home. Manager Tim Clancy watched from the stands as he is serving a touchline ban and he might have struggled to rein in his emotions if he was in his usual station. A fine first-time cross from 16-year-old visiting right full Sam Curtis caught the Hoops rearguard out with Serge Atakayi slipping in at the far post to convert.

Shamrock Rovers on title watch as they beat Pat's and put one hand ... (The Irish Sun)

SHAMROCK ROVERS - 4. ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC - 1. WHEN put on the spot, Shamrock Rovers had the answers. Roberto Lopes celebrates after his side's victory at ...

Hoops fans will watch Sligo Rovers on Monday hoping it is the case. When Burke rifled home the game’s fourth from the spot, it felt like the exclamation point on a title win. Burke made it 4-1 with his second penalty on 76 minutes after Anto Breslin was sent off for handball on the line, and the fans were singing. And they are that close to the title again having produced the goods when it mattered last night to send the majority of the 7,469 home planning a party. That happened just seconds after Rovers’ fans in the South Stand celebrated news that Shelbourne had taken the lead in Derry as a night of reckoning turned the Hoops way. Shamrock Rovers on title watch as they beat Pat’s and put one hand on the League of Ireland trophy

Shelbourne put a big dent in Derry's title hopes (RTE.ie)

Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce (Ryan Graydon 70), Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney (James Akintunde 80), Cameron McJannet; Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McEleney ...

The Brandywell men deservedly equalised on 82 minutes as Cameron Dummigan's cross from the left found substitute Joe Thomson and the midfielder turned the ball into the net from close range. Damien Duff's side were gifted the lead on 69 minutes as Maher's terrible pass to substitute Sadou Diallo only picked out Moylan on the edge of the box and he calmly steadied himself and fired high into the net. Derry went close to taking the lead on 55 minutes as Patching's left footed strike from the right hand edge of the box was parried away by a diving Clarke.