League Report: Shelbourne 1 - 0 St. Patrick's Athletic

A single first-half goal was the difference between the two sides, but in reality, the home side should have been further ahead as Pats looked rather disjointed on the night and never posed much of a threat in front of goal.

The three points enable Shels to remain clear leaders at the top of the league table after two of their closest rivals, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians, both failed to gain maximum points in their matches.

The first 25 minutes of the game was fairly even with both sides being somewhat cautious in their approach, but Shels began to up the gears after that and created a few half-chances that tested the Pats defence.

Will Jarvis, who was quieter than usual on the left wing, weaved his way into the box in the 30th minute but his final shot was straight at goalkeeper Danny Rogers and moments later, JJ Lunney fired another effort which forced Rogers to palm the ball away for a corner.

That bout of pressure was to signal the breakthrough as in the 33rd minute they scored the only goal which was ultimately to separate the two sides.

The ever-dangerous Matty Smith teased Anto Breslin on the right wing before getting in a cross, and John Martin was perfectly positioned on the penalty spot to swivel and shoot first time into the bottom right-hand corner past Rogers for a good goal.

It remained one-nil to the hosts at the halftime break but the expected reaction from Pats on the resumption never really materialised.

They were struggling throughout up front where the young Masin Melia worked hard but came in for a lot of close attention from Shelbourne centre-backs Gavin Molloy and Kameron Ledwidge.

Jon Daly withdrew Melia in favour of Cian Kavanagh in the 58th minute and also added extra attacking options in the form of Alex Nolan, Romal Palmer, and Kian Leavy but the fresh legs did not add any great momentum to the visitors.

Pats were camped in the Shels half for the last 15 minutes of the match and forced a few corners and free kicks but there was an air of desperation about their attacks but given that Shelbourne had only conceded nine goals in twelve matches before this game, they were in no mood to allow that to become double figures against one of their great Dublin rivals.

It finished one-nil to the home side, they travel away to Dundalk in their next outing while St Patrick's Athletic host Drogheda at home, both games on Friday, May 3rd.