St Patrick's Athletic (1) - Shamrock Rovers (0)

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Shamrock Rovers 0

Shamrock Rovers will have to wait for their 22nd league title as a combination of their 1-0 loss to St Patrick's Athletic and Derry Cty's come-from-behind win against Waterford at the RSC, meant that the Hoops are still waiting to completely wrap things up.

Their lead at the top has been cut to six points with Rovers having three games to play and second-placed Derry now having two left.

Stephen Bradley's men head to the Ryan McBride Brandywell to face the Candystripes on Sunday week, still needing a point to secure their fifth title in the last six seasons while St Pat's kept themselves in contention for a place in Europe courtesy of Simon Power's brilliant 37th-minute strike.

The away side were understrength with Josh Honohan out injured and Pico Lopes, who helped Cape Verde to reach next year's World Cup finals earlier this week, also absent as his wife gave birth to their first child hours before kick-off.

St Pat's started the better and were almost ahead in the seventh minute as a quick throw was flicked on my Mason Melia to Cian Healy on the right. Healy's cross was cut out but fell for Barry Baggley on the edge of the area, but his first time shot was narrowly wide.

Moments later Power's dangerous cross from the left was cut out by keeper Ed McGinty with two home players lurking in the area.

The pressure continued as Cory O'Sullivan's attempt at cutting out a Power cross resulted in the ball falling kindly for Kian Leavy, whose shot fizzed just over the crossbar.

The play was unrelenting.

Tough tackling and numerous bookings from referee Neil Doyle littered the first half as players launched themselves into challenges.

In the 37th minute, St Pat's first-half pressure told

Baggley fed Power with a great touch and pass, and as Dan Cleary backed away, Power thumped in a stunning opener from the edge of the area.

Rovers were penned in their half for long stretches of the opening period, with just the one shot on target from Danny Mandriou which was easily saved by Joe Anang in the home goal.

Pat's headed to the break with a well-deserved one-goal lead - and it could well have been 2-0 had Mason Melia not skied a great chance after McGinty had saved a Leavy shot with his legs.

The Saints kept up the pressure after the restart. Power set up Baggley just inside the area and his first-time shot just cleared the crossbar.

At the other end Anang had to be alert as Michael Noonan raced clear only to be denied by the keeper who was part of the Ghana squad that qualified for the World Cup earlier in the week.

Just after the hour mark Stephen Bradley made a triple substitution bringing on Rory Gaffney, Conor Malley and Lee Grace as his side searched for the equaliser which would have seen them seal the title.

And the introduction of Gaffney in particular gave St Pat's something to think about.

The Galwayman should have scored with 15 minutes to go when he was all alone in the area as he met Cory O'Sullivan's cross, but he couldn't beat Anang with his downward header.

Anang had to be at his best to beat away a Gaffney shot, diverting it away for a corner at his right-hand post.

With the away side pressing hard for the equaliser, the referee added seven minutes stoppage time and late in that period Graham Burke's free-kick from the edge of the box was well saved by Anang.

Just before the whistle blew, Burke went close again with a hooked shot that just dropped wide.

The final whistle brought relief to the home support as Rovers were again thwarted in their search for the title still need a point with games against Derry (away), Galway United (home) and Sligo Rovers (home) to come.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Shamrock Rovers 0

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