CARR STEERS HOOPS HOME
DAN Carr scored a stoppage time winner to break St Pat’s resistance at Richmond Park last night.
Brendan Clarke looked to have frustrated Shamrock Rovers with three brilliant late saves in this Dublin derby by the Camac.
But with Latvian referee Mareks Kere’s watch ticking over into the first minute of added time, substitute Brandon Kavanagh’s cross from the right was met by the unmarked Carr who headed home.
The win consolidates third place for Rovers as they move three points ahead of Waterford who visit Tallaght Stadium next Friday.
Saints, under caretaker Ger Carr 90+1 O’brien, were close to a first minute lead. Ex-hoop Simon Madden whipped a ball in from the right flank that was met by Ryan Brennan who planted his header off target.
In-form Rovers soon settled with captain Ronan Finn not far over the top with a half volley on eight minutes after a Gary Shaw shot rebounded to him.
Finn then dispossessed Saints’ midfielder Lee Desmond to set up Shaw who dragged his shot wide.
Rovers’ Alan Mannus, though, was the first keeper to see real action on the night when Kevin Toner got his head to a free kick on 22 minutes. Seven minutes later Joel Coustrain couldn’t keep his header down from an Ethan Boyle cross as the home goal survived another attack.
A further setpiece would trouble Rovers six minutes before the break, again Toner finding a yard of space, to meet skipper Ian Bermingham’s corner and see his header go inches
over the bar.
Saints finished the half strongly, Jamie Lennon having a shot blocked before Desmond forced their fourth corner of the game from a deflected followup. Rovers upped their tempo on the resumption with Lennon twice coming to St Pat’s rescue with blocks on efforts from Coustrain and Shaw.
Hoops’ sub Brandon Kavanagh was off target with a header before Clarke was forced into his first top stop on 73 minutes.
Sean Kavanagh picked out Cosutrain who slalomed past two defenders to bring a save with his feet form the St Pat’s keeper. Six minutes later Clarke was there again, tipping over Watts’ drive following a goalmouth scramble before the stop of the night on 86 minutes.
Coustrain and Carr set up Brandon Kavanagh whose drive was brilliantly pushed away at full stretch by Clarke before Carr finally found a way past him.