Shamrock Rovers 1
St. Patrick's Athletic 0
Stephen Doyle at Tallaght Stadium
Danny North got his and his new club's season off to a perfect start with a 17th minute goal that won all three points for Shamrock Rovers tonight.
St. Patrick's Athletic started the game well with new signing Ciaran Kilduff starting alongside Christy Fagan in a change from the old 4-3-3 formation to a new 4-4-2 by boss Liam Buckley.
St. Pats keeper Brendan Clarke's issues placing the ball for a kick-out and Gary McCabe's 8th minute daisy cutter, demonstrated the strength of the gale force wind blowing through the stadium and it would have a part to play in the goal.
Clarke's high kick-out in the 17th minute was held up in the wind before dropping short and into the path of Rovers new boy Max Blanchard who slipped it through to North.
The striker followed the through ball as it raced closer to goal before finishing it brilliantly with his left foot.
Rovers controlled the game until half-time ably assisted by the easterly gusts and McCabe went close again with a long range effort in the 26th minute which Clarke fumbled wide.
The second half produced few efforts of note from either side as Pat Fenlon's men dug into their trenches and defended the lead against their wind assisted visitors who came closest to equalising in the 4th minute of injury time.
It came from a throw by Conor McCormack and the ball bounced off a couple of heads and boots before Ciaran Kilduff headed at goal but Craig Hyland produced the save of the night to tip it onto the bar, saving the points for the Hoops.
