Shamrock Rovers (3) - St Patrick's Athletic (1)

Shamrock Rovers 3 - St Patrick's Athletic 1

Shamrock Rovers opened the new campaign in style with a comprehensive victory over St Patrick's Athletic to win the President's Cup at Tallaght Stadium.

A scoreless opening 45 in front of over 8,000 supporters at the atmospheric Dublin venue, however, the reigning league champions stepped up the levels in the second half.

Josh Honahan headed home in between a Trevor Clarke brace as the Hoops cruised to secure their first silverware of the season, with Jamie Lennon's consolation coming in injury time with the contest well and truly over.

The opening exchanges suggested that pre-season was still in progress for both sides with Rovers making slightly more of the ball, enjoying a couple of early corners; easily dealt with, however, by the Saints defence, marshalled by captain Joe Redmond and the towering Conor Keeley.

Then Neil Farrugia's seventh-minute free from out on the right was whipped on top of new Saints keeper Marcelo Pitaluga, however, the Liverpool loanee was up to the challenge.

The game burst into life for all the wrong reason as Darragh Nugent picked up a yellow card for ruthlessly chopping down Kian Leavy in what might be a blue-card offence in some future footballing world.

Jamie Lennon next to be upended, as Josh Honohan sent the midfielder flying over the touchline.

St Pat's finally started to venture forward in the 14th minute, winning two corners in succession, however, nothing would come from them other than a spinning Lennon miskick that finally wobbled its way off the pitch 20 yards up the right flank from the corner flag, much to the amusement of the packed South Stand.

And it was a quiet night to begin with for the other new signings on display with Darragh Burns unable to get his link-up play going, while Saints' new striker Ruairi Keating's only input being a couple of late challenges.

And Burns had the best chance of the night in the 29th minute following a well-worked Hoops move down the left.

The ball eventually squared to the edge of the box but the former Saint snatched at his shot â€“ with time to spare â€“ and should probably have left it to Farrugia who was teeing up his left foot.

Lennon was next to be cautioned for taking Farrugia down on the edge of the box in the 41st minute, however, Sean Kavanagh hit the free low to the keeper's right, with Pitaluga gathering comfortably.

Another yellow card, this time for Honohan for a foul on the skillful Leavy was all the drama the game could muster in the final minutes before the break.

Five Rovers substitutions before the restart, as Stephen Bradley was sticking to the script of managing his side ahead of next week's league opener.

And it did not take long for the new-look Rovers' side to gel and, indeed, take the lead, as Trevor Clarke â€“ one of the five â€“ finished perfectly from a tight angle.

The unchanged Saints eleven were pressing well in the opening minutes of the second half, but then a simple mistake â€“ needlessly keeping the ball in play â€“ allowed Rovers to counter, which led to Conan Noonan playing an exceptional ball through to the motoring Clarke who cut in from the left and whipped it into the far corner of the net.

Two minutes later, Clarke had another sight at goal, but this time his well-struck shot flew past the near post.

Saints looked for a reaction but could yield nothing other than another yellow for Keeley,'s late challenge on Burns before manager Jon Daly finally looked to his bench in the 62nd minute, sending on Cian Kavanagh and Luke Turner.

However, the old saying of never make a change while defending a corner, proved perfect for Rovers as Honohan rose majestically at the front post to beat Redmond to the flight of the ball and power home a perfect header.

Pat's looked to hit back straight away and worked a fine ball across the face of the goal after the restart, however, there was no one able to capitalise on the tempting delivery from the left.

And Rovers stayed on the front foot with Noonan stinging the hands of Pitaluga four minutes later.

Joe Redmond would get a look at goal in the 69th minute from a half-cleared free into the box, however, he snatched at his shot and it hopped well wide.

As the game moved into the final 20, several players were visibly tiring with a touch of cramp kicking in, yet Rovers maintained control of the tie, with Dylan Watts next to try his luck from distance; the substitute's shot flying just over.

St Pat's, to their credit, kept pushing forward, looking for a way back into the contest, jhowever, it was Rovers who almost made it three with ten minutes remaining.

The Hoops attack cut through the middle of the park before Rory Gaffney cushioned a ball back before racing forward looking for the return.

It duly arrived and the perfect pass was complemented by ean incredible effort as the striker cannoned a ferocious shot that flew off the upright.

With three minutes remaining, a hopeful ball sent Mason Melia beyond the Rovers defence, but Lee Grace shut it down early, happy to take another yellow card.

Saints' free went nowhere, other than setting up a Rovers counter-attack, allowing the marauding Clarke another opportunuity to attack the box from the left flank.

The wing-back was allowed to take the ball all the way into the box before cutting wide and slamming a shot across the face and into the far corner, which perhaps should have been stopped by Pitaluga.

Saints would have the last say, by way of consolation, as Lennon drilled an unstoppable shot home from 12 yards in injury time, but it was Rovers' night in their home stadium to start the season on the front foot.

And so the 2024 League of Ireland season is up and running with a facile victory for the four-in-a-row champions who produced a commanding first-half performance and a clinical second to send out a warning shot to the Premier Division contenders.

© rte.ie

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Shamrock Rovers 3 - St Patrick's Athletic 1

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