Shamrock Rovers took the bragging rights in the first “Luas Derby” of the season as a raucous 7,573 were treated to an enthralling full blooded encounter.
An assist for the Michael Noonan’s opener, and a towering back post header from man of the match Adam Brennan on his home debut saw the reigning champions kick-off the defence of their title at the third time of asking.
Jake Mulraney, who was greeted with the type of profanities one would expect against his former club, looked undeterred as he tried to get involved early on.
The pacey winger looked to silence the away support when his inswinging corner caught everyone off guard as it sailed high over the crowded area and clipped the crossbar.
Having suffered themselves – with no thanks to the recent torrential downpours – the Saints were back in action for the first time since February 8 when they went head-to-head with Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium, but missing the likes of star strikers Max Mata and Aidan Keena, it was a tough and thankless task for lone striker Ryan Edmondson against the Rovers back three.
Pat’s looked to hit quickly on the counter and were desperately unlucky when Edmondson got space in the channel, turning sharply inside Pico Lopes but lost his footing at the crucial moment as he looked to pull the trigger..
The hosts responded through a marauding run from Dan Cleary down the right and getting to the endline. His low cross was inches away from being diverted home from the fully stretched John McGovern.
On the stroke of half-time the visitors spurned a glorious chance to get in front when Edmondson sold two players in the middle of the park before releasing Ronan Boyce through on goal. The former Derry City man saw his strike brilliantly blocked at the pivotal moment by the galloping Adam Brennan.
A rejuvenated Pat’s were much more aggressive following the restart, beginning to enjoy more of the ball, and would have been ahead if it weren’t for a top drawer finger tip save from Ed McGinty who somehow turned Jamie Lennon’s curler from the edge of the box onto his left hand post.
Stephen Bradley then unloaded his talented bench with Graham Burke, Jack Byrne and Michael Noonan entering the fray, with the latter making an instant impact.
Just over a minute after his introduction, and under the watchful eye of his Irish under-21 boss Jim Crawford, the former Saint who passed his driving test this week showed the kind of speed and sharpness around the box that would earn him some penalty points on his freshly printed licence, then finished expertly from Brennan’s cut back to send the home fans into raptures.
Former Irish boss, Kenny, responded in kind by Chris Forrester and Zack Elbouzedi hoping for a similar impact to rescue something from the game, but before they could have any impact Jack Byrne, back from his stint in Dubai, rattled the near post from yet another cut back from the former UCD man.
Playing like a man with an extra set of lungs, Brennan then sealed all three points himself by rising highest at the back post to power home Danny Grant’s inviting cross to make it two and ensure all three points stayed at a chilly Tallaght Stadium.
Ed McGinty: Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Cory O’Sullivan: Danny Grant, Dylan Watts (Graham Burke, 67’), Matt Healy, Adam Brennan (Enda Stevens, 81’); Victor Ozhianvuna (Connor Malley, 77’), Jake Mulraney (Jack Byrne, 67’), John McGovern (Michael Noonan, 67’)
Joseph Anang; Luke Turner, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti (Romal Palmer, 86’): Ronan Boyce (Zack Elbouzedi, 72’), Darragh Nugent (Chris Forrester, 77’), Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley, Jason McClelland; Kian Leavy (Glory Nzingo, 79’), Ryan Edmondson
Rob Harvey
