Gary McCabe
Rovers conceded two goals in the opening 10 minutes the first of which seemed a harsh penalty against Stephen O'Donnell. A Gary McCabe wonder goal on 77 minutes ensured a grandstand finish but the Hoops couldn't force an equaliser.
Rovers had a lively opening three minutes with Ronan Finn seeing his shot from the edge of the box deflected for a corner and Ciaran Kilduff volleying over the bar from Billy Dennehys header.
Following the amount of rain that fell over the previous 24 hours the pitch was just about playable with the ball not running on some soggy areas.
 [GOAL 1:0 - 7th min.] Referee Doyle adjudged Colin Hawkins to have handled Sean O'Connor's shot inside the box and pointed to the spot much to the dismay of the Hoops defence. Sean O'Connor stepped up to fire the ball down the centre and into the net.
[GOAL 2:0 - 9th min.] It got worse for Rovers just two minutes later when Carroll skipped past Sean Gannon into the box and his low shot deflected off Colin Hawkins and into the net.
Rovers responded well and Dennehy got behind his marker to cross for McCabe but he failed to a shot in. A minute later Ronan Finn's shot was deflected for a corner and McCabe floated the ball in for Sives to head across goal and Kilduff stretched to divert tha ball on goal but 'keeper Murphy kept the ball out with his legs. Gary MaCabe then went on a run into the area but shot straight at Murphy.
On 26 minutes Bermingham attacked down the line on the left and crossed low into the box but Fagan couldn't get a shot on goal. Rovers almost equalised with three minutes remaining when Gannon fed Finn and he laid the ball off for McCabe but his shot took a slight deflection and hit the side-netting.
The home side had the first chance of the second-half when Kelly shot straigth at Jansson after Hawkins attempted clearance.
Rovers tried to get back into the game but with Ciaran Kilduff acting as a lone striker it was difficult to break down the Saints defence. Ronan Finn once again showed some class and Barry Murphy did well to take his fine cross from under the crossbar after 56 minutes.
A Killian Brennan long ball saw Kilduff get a shot in but the ball was deflected for a corner. Billy Dennehy took the kick and substitute Aaron Greene just couldn't get a shot in through a packed Pats defence. A Gannon ball into the box on 74 minutes almost picked out Kilduff but again the chance was lost.
[GOAL 2:1 - 77th min.] Rovers needed something special to get back into the game and it arrived from Greene's throw-in to Gary MacCabe as he turned his marker and set himself up to strike the ball from almost 30 yards out and Murphy had no chance as the ball hit the top corner of the net.
The game came alive and Dennehy shot over the bar following an exchange of passes with Ciaran Kilduff. On 83 minutes Greene saw his cross from the left hit the side-netting and a minute later Ronan Finn saw his shot go over the bar.
Rovers best chance to equalise came from McCabe's free-kick into the box in the third minute of added-on time. The ball was knocked on by Sives and in the ensuing scramble Kilduff saw his header deflect off a Pats defender and off the post.
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