Graham Cummins: I could never sleep before these games, the type that will define Pat's season

St Patrick's Athletic cannot afford to allow Rovers have a significant points advantage by the time they host Waterford in two weeks

St. Patrick’s Athletic celebrate after the FAI Cup win over Bray Wanderers 

The next two games could be defining in St. Patrick’s Athletic season. First, the clash between the top two sides when Pat's travel to take on league leaders Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium and then a trip to Oriel Park to face a Dundalk team that have improved of late.

In 2018, with Cork City, we found ourselves in a very similar position to where Pat's are now. We had two games in the middle of the season against Dundalk – who we were a point ahead of at the time – and against Rovers, who, like Dundalk are now, showed a lot of inconsistency throughout that season but were a very strong outfit.