Trevor Clarke bags brace as Rovers beat Saints to secure President's Cup

Shamrock Rovers 3-1 St Patrick's Athletic

Shamrock Rovers opened the new campaign in style with a comprehensive victory over St Patrick's Athletic to win the President's Cup at Tallaght Stadium.

A scoreless opening 45 in front of over 8,000 supporters at the atmospheric Dublin venue, however, the reigning league champions stepped up the levels in the second half.

Josh Honahan headed home in between a Trevor Clarke brace as the Hoops cruised to secure their first silverware of the season, with Jamie Lennon's consolation coming in injury time with the contest well and truly over.

The opening exchanges suggested that pre-season was still in progress for both sides with Rovers making slightly more of the ball, enjoying a couple of early corners; easily dealt with, however, by the Saints defence, marshalled by captain Joe Redmond and the towering Conor Keeley.

Then Neil Farrugia's seventh-minute free from out on the right was whipped on top of new Saints keeper Marcelo Pitaluga, however, the Liverpool loanee was up to the challenge.

The game burst into life for all the wrong reason as Darragh Nugent picked up a yellow card for ruthlessly chopping down Cian Leavy in what might be a blue-card offence in some future footballing world.

Jamie Lennon next to be upended, as Josh Honohan sent the midfielder flying over the touchline.

St Pat’s finally started to venture forward in the 14th minute, winning two corners in succession, however, nothing would come from them other than a spinning Lennon miskick that finally wobbled its way off the pitch 20 yards up the right flank from the corner flag, much to the amusement of the packed South Stand.

And it was a quiet night to begin with for the other new signings on display with Darragh Burns