Shamrock Rovers on the brink of another title after crushing St Pat's

Liz Truss' spell as the boss in Downing Street seems like an eternity compared to the title race, which flirted but ran aground in no time at all as Shamrock Rovers showed why they are champions.

This was a stirring night in Tallaght, almost 7,500 fans – the away section sold out – witnessing a rampant Hoops performance, putting to bed doubts that their busy schedule had opened a door for Derry, who fell short at home to Shelbourne and now must climb a mountain.

Truly the Hoops illustrated why they are champions by overcoming a terrible start to trounce Saint Patrick's on what will likely prove the deciding night in the title race – such as it was.

Serge Atakayi had the visiting fans in dreamland on four minutes but that was as good as it got for the visitors, Graham Burke scoring a penalty in either half, between which defenders Dan Cleary and Sean Hoare put Pat's to the sword – even if the Saints missed a penalty of their own to potentially make a game of it in the second half.

Rovers emptied the bench towards the end as Pat's looked at the clock, this a reality check given their own excellent form – and they remain very much alive in the fight for third place.

Serge Atakayi gives St Pat's an early lead against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.