Derby win keeps Duff's Shelbourne on top of the league

Shelbourne remain top of the Premier Division after easing to their first win in six games against St Patrick's Athletic in front of almost 5000 fans at Tolka Park.

John Martin finished a flowing Shelbourne move just after the half hour mark for his second goal of the season and despite having a flurry of chances to put the game beyond doubt, it proved enough.

Shelbourne outplayed and outfought their Dublin rivals as their unlikely title charge got back on track while the Saints looked like title pretenders, currently failing to deliver on high expectations in a season that has lacked momentum.

After a scrappy opening half an hour where much of the entertainment was watching Damien Duff rant and rave, Shelbourne took over, building pressure before breaking the deadlock.

Shels dominated the closing stages of the half and peppered the Saints goal. The silky Will Jarvis turned the defence inside out before caressing the ball into the arms of Rogers who was alert moments later to deny JJ Lunney a landmark goal on his 100th Reds appearance.

Martin got an earful from Duff for most of the half but both were all smiles when he curled Matty Smith’s cross into the bottom corner from twelve yards in the 33rd minute.

Had it not been for some fine goalkeeping from Daniel Rogers, the gap might have been wider heading into the interval.

Jon Daly’s men, without a win in three before kick off, were on the ropes and a Jake Mulraney free kick that was tipped wide by Kearns was the best they could muster.

There was encouragement for the beleaguered Saints after the break with chances falling to Mulraney and Chris Forrester but Shels went unscathed and regained control.

Jarvis should have doubled the advantage but he fired over after picking up a