Goals in either half from Brandon Miele and Gary Shaw were the difference at Richmond Park last night, as Shamrock Rovers secured all three points against rivals St Patrick’s Athletic in a lively Dublin derby.

Christy Fagan and Sam Verdon did go close for the Saints during the early exchanges, but on the stroke of 15 minutes, it was the visitors who ultimately broke the deadlock. Right-back Simon Madden made an overlap on the right flank, and after controlling his delivery into the area, left-winger Miele found the bottom corner of the Pat’s net in clinical fashion.

This provided the visitors with a strong platform, and even though the Pat’s attacking duo of Conan Byrne and Christy Fagan looked dangerous at times, the Hoops held a slender interval advantage.

Fagan did have a shot deflected wide of the mark three minutes after the restart, and despite finding it difficult to break down a disciplined Rovers rearguard, Hoops netminder Craig Hyland did produce back-to-back saves from Billy Dennehy and Darren Dennehy in the 69th-minute.

Shaw subsequently claimed his third goal in as many games from a Patrick Cregg through ball 13 minutes from the end, though, and this ensured that they moved level on points with Derry City in third-place.