Deans decides derby - December 18, 2000
St. Patrick's Athletic 0 Shamrock Rovers 1
There was nothing to choose between these top-six Dublin rivals at Richmond Park yesterday and it took a brilliant goal to separate them.
Substitute Patrick Deans picked a good time to score his first senior goal. Introduced after fourteen minutes when Marc Kenny was forced to depart with a hamstring injury, Deans struck on 65 minutes with a super shot from 25 yards.
The Saints had dominated the first half but amazingly drew a blank, even missing a 14th-minute penalty. Rovers 'keeper Robbie Horgan kicked the ball straight to Liam Kelly and had no choice but to drag down the Saints' striker. Horgan was lucky to stay on the pitch - but made amends by blocking Griffin's poorly struck spot kick.
Rovers sounded a warning on the stroke of half time when Grant missed a sitter - and they made good their threat by outplaying Pats in a rousing second-half performance.
Darragh Maguire almost put through his own net on 53 minutes and the Rovers had a penalty appeal turned down just before Deans produced his decider.
St. Patrick's Athletic: S. Kelly, Croly, Maguire, Foley, Burke, Byrne, R McGuinness, Osam, Griffin, L Kelly, McCarthy
Subs: Holt for L Kelly 58, Harris for Foley 85, G Doyle for McCarthy 88
Booked: Maguire, Holt
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan, Vaudequin, Palmer, Cronin, Woods, Kenny, Colwell, Tracey, Byrne, Cousins, Grant
Subs: Deans for Kenny 14, Robinson for Colwell 39, Francis for Vaudequin 83
Goals: Deans 65
Booked: Horgan, Cousins, Byrne
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin)