St Patrick’s Athletic push keeps title race alive
The thrill of the Irish Premier Division title race showed no signs of easing after Shamrock Rovers’ hopes of wrapping up a 22nd league crown were dented by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of St Patrick’s Athletic. A late twist in the title chase saw Derry City claw back ground with a dramatic come-from-behind win against Waterford at the RSC, leaving the top of the table tantalisingly close with just three rounds remaining for Rovers and two for the Candystripes.
Rovers arrived at the weekend knowing perfection might seal the deal, but Saints captain Stephen Bradley’s side had other ideas. The visitors’ efficiency, grit, and a decisive moment from Simon Power cut the home side’s stride and stretched the race for the trophy to the wire.
A moment of magic from Simon Power
St Pat’s carried their pressure into the match’s opening exchanges, with chances at a premium but intent evident. The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute when Power collected a pass from Barry-Crowe Baggley, left Dan Cleary to retreat, and unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the box that found the net. It was the decisive moment of the half and underscored the Saints’ capacity to punish lapses in concentration from their title rivals.
Rovers, shorn of Regimental- pace wide players due to injury and personal reasons, could not fashion a meaningful reply in the opening period. Danny Mandroiu’s solitary effort on target was comfortably saved by Joe Anang, and St Pat’s headed for the break with the advantage they deserved.
Second half: pressure, chances, and late drama
The second half saw Shamrock Rovers adopt a more forward stance, chasing the equaliser that would stretch their unbeaten run and tighten their grip on the league. Forwards such as Graham Burke and the reintroduced Rory Gaffney looked to threaten, while Anang remained busy between the posts for the hosts. The game’s tempo rose as the away side pressed, and Gaffney’s inevitable attempts created nervy moments for the Saints’ goalkeeper.
Bradley responded by shuffling his pack mid-second half, bringing on Conor Malley and Lee Grace as his forwards to probe further. Gaffney, goalscoring form in hand, should have capitalised on a cross from Cory O’Sullivan, but his downward header flashed wide, denying Rovers a lifeline and leaving the stand with a sense of tense expectation.
St Pat’s preservation and the title race beyond
With seven minutes of stoppage time added, the match remained finely balanced. A late Graham Burke set-piece did cause moments of danger, but Anang produced a crucial save and maintained the slender lead. The final whistle confirmed a hard-earned three points for St Pat’s, while Shamrock Rovers left with the sense that the title would need at least a point from a demanding run-in.
St Pat’s remain firmly in the conversation for Europe, and the Greater Dublin side now look to build on this result with their own fixtures ahead. The title race will continue to captivate supporters as Rovers head into three remaining fixtures—Derry City away, Galway United at home, and Sligo Rovers at home—each game presenting its own test against stern opposition.
What’s next for the title contenders?
Shamrock Rovers will travel to Derry City, where a single point would keep their hopes alive for a fifth title in six seasons. St Pat’s, buoyed by this result and homegrown momentum, will also eye finishing strongly as they chase a European place and their own success story this season. The title race remains extraordinarily tight, and any slip by either side could prove pivotal as the calendar moves toward the season’s climax.
Key moments
- Simon Power’s 37th-minute strike for St Pat’s opened the scoring.
- Rovers’ best chances came late as they chased the equaliser, but Anang stood firm.
- Seven minutes of stoppage time added, with late set-piece drama that ultimately wasn’t enough for the visitors.
Team news
St Patrick’s Athletic: Joseph Anang; Carl Axel Sjoberg, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Al-Amin Kazeem (Jason McClelland 82); Barry-Crowe Baggley, Chris Forrester (Darren Robinson 82), Jamie Lennon; Simon Power (Ryan McLoughlin), Kian Leavy (Jordan Garrick 87); Mason Melia (Conor Carty).
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Adam Matthews (John McGovern 82), Daniel Cleary, Corey O’Sullivan; Darragh Nugent (Aaron McEneff 90), Dylan Watts, Matt Healy (Lee Grace 65), Danny Mandroiu, Seán Kavanagh (Rory Gaffney 65); Graham Burke, Michael Noonan (Conor Malley 65).
