Ryan Guy's goal against Shamrock Rovers proved to be the lifeline that St. Patrick's Athletic needed to avoid relegation, while Chris Konopka featured for Sporting Fingal in a defeat to Athlone Town.
St. Patrick's Athletic 1 - 0 Shamrock Rovers
Having lost three times to their South Dublin rivals over the course of the season, St. Pat's knew that that bad record had to be broken if they were to climb out of the relegation play-off positions.
The Super Saints simply had to win and hope that either Galway United or Sligo Rovers slipped up in their respective games. After a slow start they found the right gear with Guy again showing the way.
It is not just on these pages that the San Diego native has been getting credit this year. The Saints fans adore him and it was easy to see why when he popped up with the opening goal of the game after 39 minutes following a bullet header from inside the opposition's penalty area.
Just minutes later he was in behind their defensive lines again, but this time his effort went wide rather than hit the back of the net.
Rovers came out swinging in the second period with Craig Sives and then Paddy Kavanagh forcing saves from St. Pat's keeper Brendan Clarke.
With news filtering through that Galway had been held at home by Cork City, the home supporters stormed the field at the final whistle as their team had avoided the drop.
St. Pat's game against Derry City in the Setanta Sports Cup on Tuesday has been canceled due to Derry's horrid financial situation.
Sporting Fingal 2-3 Athlone Town
A third place finish in the First Division might not have been what Sporting were aiming for when the season started, but they will be happy with how their year unfolded.
Unfortunately, they were unable to win their final home game as Athlone arrived at Morton Stadium all fired up and took the lead through Stephen Place after 19 minutes.
Conan Byrne brought the scores level on the half hour mark when his 26th strike of the campaign lit up the scoreboard, but goals from Robbie Benson and Des Hope put the visitors back in control.
Konopka was between the posts for Liam Buckley's team and while he played well for the majority of the game he will have been disappointed with the third goal that saw him fumble a free-kick before Hope pounced.
Robbie Doyle scored Sporting's second of the evening before he was sent off and that effectively ended the game as a contest.
Sporting will play second-placed Shelbourne in a promotion play-off on Tuesday evening as they bid to make it into the top flight for the very first time in their short history. |
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