Rovers roll on as McEneff strikes again
The summer acquisition from Derry City kept his cool from 12 yards to give Rovers a seventhminute lead they wouldn’t relinquish after Kevin Toner had fouled Aaron Greene.
Harry Kenny named an unchanged Saints side from the one which drew in UCD last week, while captain Ronan Finn was one of three to return for Rovers from Monday’s win over Finn Harps.
Greene found out this week he was to face no further suspension for his red card in the last Dublin derby, against Bohemians at Dalymount Park last month.
And the striker made an immediate impact on his return to another of his former clubs as he capitalised on a slip from Lee Desmond to break into the box.
Toner had little option but to attempt a tackle but he succeeded only in tripping the big frontman, and referee Neil Doyle had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Dylan Watts had missed a penalty against Harps on Monday, but he was relegated to the bench, so McEneff stepped up to dispatch his second of the season.
This one was a little more straightlaced than the audacious Panenka he scored against Derry City a few weeks ago, his side-footed effort down the middle enough to beat Brendan Clarke.
McEneff could have had his second shortly afterwards as he won possession on the edge of the box and curled a shot goalwards, but Toner was on hand to clear.
The 23-year-old was at the heart of the action once more as Trevor Clarke’s cross was only half-cleared, and McEneff sliced his volley wide of the target,
The Derryman, once more, set off the next move from deep with a strong surge before Jack Byrne played in Dan Carr, and the Trinidadian should really have hit the target with Brendan Clarke scrambling.
The Saints were glorified spectators for the first half-hour as Rovers left them chasing shadows for long periods, but they did work their way into the game as the half developed.
Brandon Miele, facing the side he left in December, looked as if he had a point to prove and it was his cross that another ex-Hoops ace, Mikey Drennan, should have turned into the equaliser.
Miele got the better of Joey O’Brien on the left and zipped the ball across goal but, with the goal at his mercy, Drennan glanced wide.
McEneff should have doubled his tally late in the half as Greene’s clever backheel teed him up in the box, but was visibly frustrated when he blazed his effort over.
Pats had Brendan Clarke to thank as he pulled off two wonder saves in quick succession just past the hour, denying Joey O’Brien on both occasions.
First, he extended a long arm to claw the defender’s bullet header off the line, before getting down low to turn away the former international’s diving header.
Greene should have wrapped it up 11 minutes from time when a mix-up between Toner and Brendan Clarke saw him presented with an open goal, but he hooked the ball past the post.
The visitors endured a late scare as a corner was turned on goal but, with Mannus beaten, Trevor Clarke hooked clear.
Greene had one final chance to seal it in injury time as he broke clear of Simon Madden, but once again Brendan Clarke stood tall to deny him, but it was too little too late for the Saints.