St. Patrick's Athletic 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
By Jamie Moore
League leaders Dundalk were the big winners on Monday night despite not playing a game as St. Pats and Shamrock Rovers shared the points at Richmond Park.
2,591 fans braved the Monday evening rain to see a game that should have taken place last Friday, but was called off due to the bad weather.
Both clubs are chasing leaders Dundalk and this result means the defending champions are eight points ahead of Rovers and ten points above St. Pats.
Ex Saint Keith Fahey was the villain of the piece and had one of Shamrock Rovers’ best chances while Luke Byrne missed a great chance with a late header.
Former Hoop Ciaran Kilduff had the best chance of the game for St. Pats, but he headed Chris Forrester’s cross wide.
The match burst to life in the on the excellent playing surface in the 33rd minute and Mikey Drennan really should have opened the scoring for Rovers. He had scored seven goals in his previous eight appearances but smashed his shot over the crossbar following good work from Stephen McPhail and Gavin Brennan.
St. Pats' best chance of the half fell to former Shamrock Rovers striker Kilduff but he headed Forrester’s cross wide. He should have tested former team-mate Craig Hyland.
Conan Byrne had St. Pats’ only other real effort after some good play by James Chambers, but Hyland saved easily.
Fahey had two good chances before half-time, he headed Simon Madden’s cross wide when he should have at least hit the target and had another opportunity just before the half-time whistle. The ball dropped to him invitingly on the edge of the box but he sliced his shot well wide to the delight of the St. Pats faithful.
Both teams went for it in the second half but it took until the 88th minute for the only real chance and it fell to Rovers’ left-back Luke Byrne.
He was free at the back post but managed to head Keith Fahey’s cross inches wide of the post when it was easier to score.
Rovers host Longford Town on Friday night while St. Pats travel to The Carlisle Grounds on Saturday to face Bray Wanderers and former St. Pats Coach Trevor Croly, who will take charge of Bray for the first time.
St. Pats: O’Malley; Chambers, Hoare, Desmond, Bermingham; C Byrne, Forreste (Verdon, 80), Bolger (McCormack, 55), K Brennan, Greene; Kilduff.
Shamrock Rovers: Hyland; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard, Byrne; Miele (North,79), McPhail (R Brennan, 50), Cregg, G Brennan (Waters, 72); Fahey; Drennan.
Shamrock Rovers’ boss Pat Fenlon and St. Pats’ manager Liam Buckley spoke to 98FM’s Jamie Moore after the game.
