Match Preview

St Patrick's Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers

An injury-time winner secured a thrilling comeback victory for St Patrick's Athletic over Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers at a sold-out Richmond Park.

With Brandon Kavanagh ready to power home from an Axel Sjoberg cross, Dylan Watts' unlucky leg turned the ball into his Hoops net.

It looked as if both sides were going to have to be content with a point after Ruairi Keating cancelled out Johnny Kenny's opener for the visitors.

But there was a sting in the tail as the Saints claimed a vital win, sparking joyous scenes at the full-time whistle.

Coming into the game on the back of a wretched run that included one win in eight, Stephen Kenny's Saints made three swaps from their scoreless draw against Drogheda United.

And Rovers made four from their most recent league outing - also against Drogs - with deputy keeper Lee Steacy picked to start instead of the injured Leon Pohls.

Steacy was at the forefront of the early action as he clattered into Mason Melia from a Jake Mulraney cross - with referee Damien MacGraith waving away the penalty protests.

Rovers had their own penalty claim minutes later after Neil Farrugia looked to have been hauled down by Luke Turner after cutting back and priming himself to shoot but it was waved away by MacGraith.

Melia then went close on the quarter hour but he could direct a cross from Mulraney just wide after some good play in the middle from the hosts.

St Pat's were motoring well at this point and should have scored in the 20th minute if not for some heroic defending from Hoops defender Josh Honohan who blocked two goalbound efforts from Romal Palmer and Melia after some fine wing play from Kian Leavy.

But Rovers soon found their groove and caused no end of trouble for the hosts down the left flank - with Turner enduring a wretched time trying to contain Farrugia.

The makeshift Saints left-back was beaten easily by Farrugia for the Rovers opener, as he twisted and turned before dragging the ball back to Johnny Kenny who scored with ease.

Farrugia created another golden opportunity two minutes after the Hoops' scored, dragging the ball back to Aaron Greene - only for Lennon to bravely dive in front of the ball to clear the danger.

The Athletic, however, had a chance to level proceedings before the break but Grivosti could only send his glancing header straight at Steacy who collected easily.

St Pat's regained the initiative after the break and should have levelled just six minutes into the second half but Mulraney horribly shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Axel Sjoberg crossed for Mulraney with Steacy getting down well to deny the Saints winger as the game approached the hour.

The Saints thought they levelled through sub Keating but he was adjudged to have been offside after finding the net following a cross from Leavy.

But they did not have to wait too long before they equalised when Keating pounced on a mistake from Steacy when playing out to score a deserved goal.

And there was still time for a Saints winner in injury time when Watts looked to have turned into his own net from a devilish cross into the box from Sjoberg - despite the presence of Kavanagh.

It was the sweetest of sweet winners for Stephen Kenny who got one over on his former side.

© rte.ie

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
April, 18th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT
April, 4th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Shelbourne	0	REPORT
March, 14th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Bohemians	0	REPORT
March, 3rd 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Derry City	0	REPORT
February, 28th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Sligo Rovers	3	REPORT
February, 14th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Drogheda United	0	REPORT
February, 7th 2025	Friendly	St Patrick's Athletic	4	UCD	0	REPORT
January, 21st 2025	LeinsterSnrCup	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Bray Wanderers	1	REPORT
October, 25th 2024	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Derry City	0	REPORT
October, 18th 2024	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Galway United	1	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
April, 25th 2025	League	Bohemians	2	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
April, 21st 2025	League	Drogheda United	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 11th 2025	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
March, 28th 2025	League	Waterford	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
March, 7th 2025	League	Shamrock Rovers	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
February, 21st 2025	League	Galway United	2	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
February, 1st 2025	Friendly	Molde FK	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
January, 29th 2025	Friendly	Vancouver Whitecaps	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
January, 18th 2025	LeinsterSnrCup	Inchicore Athletic	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
November, 1st 2024	League	Sligo Rovers	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
April, 18th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT
March, 7th 2025	League	Shamrock Rovers	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
September, 27th 2024	League	Shamrock Rovers	0	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
June, 13th 2024	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shamrock Rovers	1	REPORT
May, 10th 2024	League	Shamrock Rovers	2	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
April, 5th 2024	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shamrock Rovers	1	REPORT
February, 9th 2024	PresidentsCup	Shamrock Rovers	3	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
October, 27th 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT
May, 15th 2023	League	Shamrock Rovers	3	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
April, 21st 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
April, 25th 2025	League	Bohemians	2	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
April, 21st 2025	League	Drogheda United	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 18th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT
April, 11th 2025	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
April, 4th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Shelbourne	0	REPORT
March, 28th 2025	League	Waterford	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
March, 14th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Bohemians	0	REPORT
March, 7th 2025	League	Shamrock Rovers	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
March, 3rd 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Derry City	0	REPORT
February, 28th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Sligo Rovers	3	REPORT