Clancy can look forward to Donegal trip with more optimism

St Patrick's Athletic manager Timmy Clancy can look forward to next weekend's trip to scenic Donegal with a little more optimism after his side defeated high-flying Shamrock Rovers at a packed Richkmond Park last night.

Clancy brings his team to take on Finn Harps at Finn Park next Friday for their next Premier Div assignment and he and his players will have an extra pep in their step after last night's rousing 1-0 victory over the reigning league champions.

The all important goal arrived on 55 minutes when the outstanding Darragh Burns supplied a cross for Chris Forrister to head home after 55 minutes.

Burns, whose family lives in Stamullen, torched the left-wing all evening tormenting the Rovers' defence. His performance was so good he received a standing ovation.

The pressure was on Clancy and his players to deliver after losing their previous two games but they came up with the goods although Rovers also created a number of good chances but were unable to take any.

The dangers of facing a Finn Harps side on their own patch in Ballybofey was underlined last night when Bohs had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the home side.

The Bohs team had James Finnerty from Skryne and Dawson Devoy from Ashbourne, among their ranks. The Dalymount Park side took the lead after 52 minutes when Devoy lofted the ball into the Harps' box and Promise Omochere was on hand to direct the ball to the net.

In the second-half Finn Harps engineered an equaliser when Ryan Connolly netted on 66 minutes.

The resilience the Harps showed will no doubt be noted by Clancy as he plans this week for the trip up to Ballybofey.