Saints secure top flight status

04/11/2005 - 22:33:42
St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Shamrock Rovers 1

St. Pat’s scored more than once for the first time in four months to ease their own relegation fears and plunge Rovers into real trouble.

St Pat’s keeper and captain Barry Ryan twice saved well from Rovers’ skipper Trevor Molloy before Saints stole the lead in first half stoppage time from an Alan Reilly free-kick.

Gerard Rowe added a second goal on 69 minutes before Rovers hit back through Mark Rutherford.

But Robbie Doyle slotted home a stoppage time penalty after Rovers’ defender Gavin McDonnell was sent off for a foul on Sean O’Connor.