Shamrock Rovers stretched their lead at the top of the Premier Division to six points after securing a hat-trick of wins over St Patrick's Athletic this season.
The Saints were the Hoops’ closest challengers going into this derby but once again came up short against the champions, with Graham Burke’s stunning early goal settling matters in front of 8,661 at Tallaght Stadium.
For a team that has scored so freely this season, this was the third game in-a-row that St Pat’s have drawn a blank in and that must be concerning Stephen Kenny.
They also haven’t scored in any of their meetings against Rovers this year and apart from the odd half chance, and a late kitchen sink effort, they rarely looked like addressing it.
Rovers - who are now eight clear of St Pat’s in third - were good value for the win and could have won by more late on, with substitute Michael Noonan twice going close.
They laid their foundations early and never looked back in the opening half once Burke smashed that opener high into Joseph Anang’s net after only nine minutes.
Anang’s inclusion was a surprise as it had been thought all week that he would be with Ghana, as they ramp up their World Cup preparations in Wales.
St Pat’s thought they had dealt with a Jack Byrne free-kick into the box but the headed clearance landed at Dylan Watts’ feet on the edge of the box. His first touch was exquisite, before teeing up Burke who steadied himself to riffle home left-footed.
Rovers played good football thereafter, stringing together intricate passes with Burke, Jack Byrne and Matt Healy to the fore, pulling St Pat’s from one side to the other. Still, Anang didn't have a great deal to do and the Saints grew in confidence approaching the break.
Belatedly, they were getting on the ball in the Rovers half, but the Hoops rearguard defended well with Lee Grace denying Kian Leavy a clean shot with a brilliant sliding challenge in the box. And Enda Stevens - the Rovers match winner at Dalymount Park on Monday - also made an important block on Romal Palmer just before the break.
St Pat’s just couldn’t get any rhythm going, and yet they still threatened early in the second-half. Palmer teed up James Brown but the wing-back couldn’t get his shot on target when racing into the box to meet the ball first time.
Moments later, skipper Joe Redmond forced Ed McGinty - who will fly to Canada with the Ireland squad on Saturday - into a good save, with the travelling contingent finding their voice in the East Stand.
Aidan Keena’s arrival off the bench signalled St Pat’s intent for the closing half hour and Luke Turner wasn’t far off connecting with Zack Elbouzedi’s low cross at close range. But it was bitty stuff and the Saints frustration was compounded with 13 minutes to go when a Sean Hoare goal was chalked off for offside.
At the death, with St Pat’s camped in the Rovers box, Grace was fortunate that a hacked clearance flashed wide of his own net after it crashed off team-mate Healy when Saints were pressing for an equaliser, but Rovers held firm in the end.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Tunmise Sobowale, Lee Grace, Enda Stevens; Jake Mulraney (Max Kovalevskis 67), Dylan Watts (Connor Malley 74), Matt Healy, Cory O’Sullivan; Graham Burke (Michael Noonan 74), Jack Byrne (John O’Sullivan 74); John McGovern (Aaron Greene 64).
St Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang; Joe Redmond, Sean Hoare, Luke Turner (Anto Breslin 77); James Brown (Glory Nzingo 84), Jamie Lennon, Barry Baggley (Aidan Keena 63), Zack Elbouzedi; Kian Leavy, Romal Palmer (Darragh Nugent 77); Ryan Edmondson (Max Mata 77).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick)
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