Shamrock Rovers keep title champagne on ice after Simon Power’s stunner for Pat’s blows race for Europe wide open

But for a number of reasons, they desperately needed the good vibes from a victory that once again delays Rovers’ inevitable title celebrations, with this outcome meaning that Stephen Bradley’s plans to do the Dublin Marathon next Sunday before finding a route to Derry might be in difficulty.

Before then, they’ve got a crucial Conference League encounter with Celje on Thursday and the main concern from a football perspective might just be getting up to the necessary pitch after dropping off with the hard work done. Another defeat is an annoyance Bradley could do without.

But while the headline focus was on Rovers because of the coronation angle, the reality is that the result of this game was of more relevance to the Saints in their attempts to secure European football.

Results elsewhere mean they are six points off third placed Shels but just one off fourth placed Bohs. Monday’s encounter between those sides in Phibsboro now has seismic implications.

Similar to Shels last week, they needed to try and capitalise on a depleted Rovers rearguard with Pico Lopes ruled out after his wife Leah gave birth to their first child earlier in the day.

Rovers fans unfurled a banner congratulating Lopes for his achievement in reaching the World Cup with Cape Verde. Alas, he was only able to make it to the ground early in the second half – too late for inclusion on the teamsheet.

With wing backs Josh Honohan and Danny Grant also out of the equation and Lee Grace only fit enough to take a place on the bench, Rovers were without four of their first choice back five.

As it happens, it was the only regular standing, Daniel Cleary, who was closest to the action for the Saints breakthrough that proved to be the winner although it would be hard to strongly point the finger at the Rovers right centre half.

In truth, Simon Power’s 37th minute effort was all about the individual brilliance of the Saints winger who had a fruitless spell on the periphery in Tallaght before relaunching his career with Sligo Rovers to earn a move back to Dublin.

Known for his pace rather than his precision, Power stood up Cleary before arrowing a 25 yard thunderbolt into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Ed McGinty.

Rovers could have few complaints about the half-time state of play as Barry Baggley had missed a good chance early on, and Mason Melia wasted a glorious opportunity to pile on the pain after Power’s opener – the Spurs bound striker blasted over the bar with McGinty exposed after using his feet to deny Kian Leavy.

Rovers had their moments without ever adequately testing Joseph Anang and they needed a half-time debrief to try and focus the minds.

But it took them a while to start asking real questions with the lively Baggley nearly doubling the Saints advantage after a slick move that highlighted how good the Inchicore side can be on a going day.

The anguish for the patrons is how rarely they hit that form on their travels; with trips to Dalymount Park and Tolka Park either side of the visit to Waterford on the run-in, that will need to change.

To make those matches relevant, they had to see this game out and their position of comfort was challenged by Rovers changes that gave them more impetus.

Shortly after Michael Noonan was denied by alert keeping from Anang, Bradley sent for the veteran Rory Gaffney in a treble switch. With Connor Malley lively and the introduction of Grace strengthened the rearguard, the Hoops had a bit more of a platform to create chances and Gaffney started to get on the end of them. But Anang – who celebrated World Cup qualification with Ghana earlier in the week – twice denied the Galwegian.

Pat’s angst grew as the finishing line approached, with Rovers going for broke and Burke dropping deep to conduct play.

A free kick at the edge of the area during the seven minutes of stoppage time gave the Irish international the chance for a moment to remember but his effort lacked power and a subsequent acrobatic flick was narrowly off target as the Saints celebrated a result that adds life to the respective seasons in very different ways.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang, Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Kazeem (McClelland 80); Lennon; Leavy (Garrick 87), Forrester (Robinson 80), Baggley, Power (McLoughlin 90); Melia (Carty 90)

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty, Cleary, Matthews (McGovern 81), O’Sullivan; Nugent (McEneff 90), Watts, Healy (Malley 64), Kavanagh (Grace 64); Burke, Mandroiu; Noonan (Gaffney 64)