Shamrock Rovers fail to clinch title as St Pat's take derby spoils

A goal worthy of winning any game from Simon Power was enough to earn the Saints a massive three points  and ensure there was no repeat of the scenes from 2023 when Rovers clinched the title in Inchicore

St Pat's Simon Power celebrates scoring the winner against Shamrock Rovers with Mason Melia at Richmond Park on Friday night. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Premier Division: St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shamrock Rovers 0 

The champagne remains on ice for the champions elect as they went down 1-0 away at European-chasing St Pat’s in a heated Dublin derby.

A goal worthy of winning any game from Simon Power was enough to earn the Saints a massive three points over their Dublin rivals and ensure there was no repeat of the scenes from 2023 when Rovers clinched the title in Inchicore.

Thanks to results elsewhere, Stephen Kenny’s men stay sixth but just a point behind both Drogheda United and Bohemians as the race for those valuable European places goes down to the wire.

The hosts, needing to bounce back from their FAI Cup semi-final defeat to Cork City, started like a house on fire, exemplified by Chris Forrester smashing into Danny Mandroiu within the opening minute in a fiery encounter.

Much the sharper early on, Pat’s should have been ahead when a low cross from the right was only half cleared as Darragh Nugent got a toe on the ball ahead of Mason Melia but fell kindly to Barry Baggley who failed to hit the target.

The visitors tried their best to defuse the situation by recycling the ball as best as possible but the chances were racking up for the hosts.

Minutes later Joe Redmond misjudged his free header just outside the six-yard box but needn’t have worried as five minutes before the break The Saints finally got the breakthrough their impressive display deserved. Firstly, Baggley was sharp in releasing the lightning-quick Simon Power free down the left.

And the former Rovers man proceeded to cut inside and unleash an unstoppable effort that rifled into the top corner.

Roberto Lopes, who helped Cape Verde qualify for the World Cup next summer and whose celebrations continued this week with the announcement of the birth of his first child hours before kick-off, as expected was a big miss at the back for the double-chasing Hoops.

Tottenham Hotspur-bound Mason Melia spurned a glorious chance to double his side's lead on the stroke of half time, blazing over the bar with the goal at his mercy following McGinty’s save.

But with just one goal separating the sides, there was always an underlying tension that one goal would be enough for the visitors. Bradley responded by unloading his bench hoping for a reaction and almost found it.

Substitute Rory Gaffney found himself free just yards out but was unable to guide Cory O’Sullivan’s pinpoint cross either side of Joe Anang.

With 10 minutes remaining there were huge calls for a straight red when last man Adam Matthews caught Melia on the halfway line, having mistakenly passed the ball straight to the feet of the teenager. Referee Neil Doyle opted for a yellow, taking into account the foul was so far away from goal.

Following a nervy seven-plus minutes of injury time,  Graham Burke had the chance his side searched desperately for, but saw his free kick from the edge of the box well held by Anang to ensure all three points remain in Dublin 8.

St Patrick’s Athletic: J. Anang; A. Sjoberg, J. Redmond, T. Grivosti, A.-A. Kazeem (J. McClelland, 81’); J. Lennon, C. Forrester (D. Robinson, 81’); K. Leavy (J. Garrick, 87’), B. Baggley, S. Power (R. McLaughlin, 90+4’); M. Melia (C. Carty, 90+4’).

Subs not used: D. Rogers, B. Kavanagh, A. Keena, J. Mulraney.

Shamrock Rovers: E. McGinty; A. Matthews (J. McGovern, 81’), D. Cleary, C. O’Sullivan; D. Nugent (A. McEneff, 90’), D. Watts, M. Healy (L. Grace, 64’), D. Mandroiu, S. Kavanagh (R. Gaffney, 64’); G. Burke, M. Noonan (C. Malley, 64’).

Subs not used: L. Steacy, G. O’Neill, C. Barrett, E. Vassenin.

Referee: N. Doyle.