Maher goal keeps Pat’s in control

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shelbourne 0

Buoyed by their 4-0 derby triumph over Shamrock Rovers a week previously, the hosts started brightly, with Christopher Forrester finding space inside the area to shoot a low shot straight at Niall Burdon from 14 yards in the 3rd minute.

That pressure was maintained, with the Saints appearing to have genuine grounds for a penalty eight minutes later as Killian Brennan tumbled under a challenge from Stephen Hurley, but their appeals were dismissed by referee Paul McLaughlin.

Shelbourne were coping admirably despite conceding both possession and territory to the league leaders and their defensive nous was epitomised in the 15th minute by Robert Cornwall, who cleared superbly at the back post under pressure from Forrester.

Shels showed a degree of attacking intent as Glenn Cronin fired narrowly wide from 30 yards in the 22nd minute while at the opposite end Ger O’Brien did likewise after an enterprising run from right-full.

With the hosts showing signs of frustration, the visitors should have taken the lead on the half hour mark but Dean Kelly shot straight at Brendan Clarke from three yards after a sublime low delivery from the right-flank by Hurley.

That miss was to prove especially costly as St Pat’s hit the front in the 39th minute as a diagonal ball from Greg Bolger released Byrne through on goal and although Derek Doyle intervened with a well-timed tackle, the ball ran straight to Stephen Maher who swept home into the empty net from outside the area.

That score galvanised the hosts and Anthony Flood should have doubled their advantage in the 44th minute but his chipped attempt cleared the crossbar after Byrne provided a defence-splitting pass.

There was still sufficient time in the half for Maher to almost add his own and his side’s second of the night but his left-foot shot from fourteen yards trickled wide after another incisive break by Ian Bermingham.

The relative comfort of a second goal should have arrived in the 57th minute but a typically tricky piece of play from Forrester was wasted as Maher mis-kicked from a central position with the away defence all at sea.

After the excellent Bolger had volleyed narrowly wide on the 71st minute, Byrne was more culpable three minutes later as his diving header from six yards sailed wide, with Bermingham once again the source of the opportunity.

Burdon’s block from O’Brien in the 87th minute kept the visitors’ faint hopes alive but their lack of attacking threat ultimately proved their downfall as the Saints confirmed a well-merited success.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; O’Brien, Kenna, Browne, Bermingham; Byrne, Maher (Gannon, 85), Bolger, Brennan, Forrester (Kelly, 82); Flood (Fagan, 61).

SHELBOURNE: Burdon; Cornwall, Gartland, Ryan, Doyle; Hanlon, Hurley (O’Connor, 72), Cronin, Brennan; Kelly (Tinnelly, 79), Murtagh (McGlynn, 58).

Referee: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).