Shamrock Rovers secured a 2-1 win over St Patrick's Athletic in a tense Dublin derby at Richmond Park on Saturday evening.

 

Gary Twigg got both goals to strengthen Rovers' hopes of remaining in the Premier Division title race, while an Alan Cawley penalty was little consolation for the home team.

 

St Pat's were actually the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges and had several chances to break the deadlock, but they couldn't find a way past visiting goalkeeper Barry Murphy.

 

Ryan Guy was the first player to threaten for the hosts when he raced onto a chipped pass from Bobby Ryan before firing into the side netting. That was a sign of things to come from Jeff Kenna's men - plenty of possession, but no cutting edge in front of goal.

 

A tame header from Jamie Harris, an angled shot from Stephen Maher, a low free-kick lacking any sort of venom from Gareth O'Connor, and a snap shot from Ryan all followed as The Super Saints kept the pressure on.

 

For all of the good offensive play that they produced, St Pat's were ultimately undone by a moment's hesitation inside their own box coupled with the quick thinking of Twigg.

 

The Scottish frontman got in front of his marker on 42 minutes when his strike partner Dessie Baker flicked the ball on and he fired in a volley on the turn.

 

In the second period, St Pat's pushed for the goal that would get them back into it, but they conceded again before finding the back of the net.

 

On 66 minutes, Twigg found space in the opposition's box and directed a Sean O'Connor pass into the far corner of the net for his second goal of the night.

 

St Pat's refused to give in and when Stephen Maher won a penalty, a huge cheer echoed around Richmond Park. Cawley grabbed the ball straight away before blasting the spot-kick in.

 

While it wasn't enough to drag them back into it, Kenna will have spotted many positives in his team's play, but will be hoping that star striker Mark Quigley makes a speedy return from injury.

 

For Rovers, they are now unbeaten in their last eight league games, which is the kind of form that suggests they should now be considered as title challengers.

 

St Patrick's Athletic: Rogers, Haverty, Harris (Cawley 50), Gavin, Stevens, Maher, Byrne, O'Connor, B. Ryan (Moran 76), Guy, Fitzpatrick.

 

Substitutes Not Used: Clarke, Friemanis, Haran.

 

Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Flynn, Price, Sives, Bermingham, Purcell, Robinson, Bradley (McGill 81), O'Connor (Amond 87), Twigg, Baker (Cowan 87).

 

Substitutes Not Used: Coleman, Treacy.

 

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork)