Date: 18 February 2022

Competition: League of Ireland Premier Division (first tier)

Result: Shelbourne Rovers 0 – 3 St Patrick’s Athletic

Tickets: €15 (adult), €5 (kids)

Attendance: circa 4,400

The game: The opening game of the League of Ireland season, a freezing cold February night that saw newly promoted Shelbourne take on far more established St Patrick’s Athletic in Damien Duff’s first game as a manager (of anyone, but specifically of Shelbourne). Despite the score this was a fairly tight contest, with Pat’s handed the advantage after Darragh Burn scorched a fantastic finish into the corner from about 25 yards in the first half.

From there, Shelbourne were chasing the game and created quite a few chances, especially down the left hand side, but couldn’t put any away. Pat’s were far more clinical and look like a side that will at least challenge for Europe again this season, if not go a little futher. A good game that petered out towards the end with the result obvious. Good entertainment, and televised, too, though – the TV coverage meant a load of glaring spotlights in one corner of the ground, which I’d imagine were quite distracting to the players!