National League champions St Patrick's Athletic drew their second blank in as many days with Shamrock Rovers claiming the inaugural FAI Super Cup at Tolka Park yesterday.
Pat Dolan's men offered precious little up front - a worrying sign for the Inchicore outfit as they prepare for European action in a few weeks' time - and their two main strikers were both replaced in the second half. Paul Stokes tested them early on but the warning signs were not heeded and on 11 minutes his flick-on allowed Billy Woods to steal in on the right to score.
St Patrick's were outclassed in midfield but they eventually created their first chance on 21 minutes when Martin Reilly forced a reflex save out of Robert Forde. But Rovers continued to dictate affairs with Brian Morrisroe's strike a minute from time merely underlining Rovers's class.
Shamrock Rovers: Forde, Britton, Dunne, Brazil, Purdy, Treacy, O'Neill, Colwell, Woods, Cousins, Stokes. Subs: Morrisroe for O'Neill (76 mins); Francis for Stokes (86 mins).
St Patrick's Athletic: Woods, Burke, Lynch, Moody, Clarke, Gormley, Osam, Reilly, Morgan, Gilzean, Braithwaite. Subs: Doyle for Clarke, Campbell for Gormley (both half-time); Crolly for Morgan, Molloy for Braithwaite (both 61 mins); Southgate for Gilzean (79 mins).
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
