Aidan Keena believes St Patrick's Athletic must win all their remaining fixtures to have any chance of catching Shamrock Rovers in the title race. The Rovers striker acknowledged his side's recent momentum has put them in a strong position at the top of the Premier Division.
Keena stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate task ahead. "That's probably the best-case scenario at this stage but really we must look after Friday first to make that possible," he said.
Shamrock Rovers have opened a six-point gap at the summit after three consecutive victories. They sit first with 65 points from 33 games, having beaten Bohemians 2-1 last Friday with goals from John McGovern and Dylan Watts.
St Patrick's Athletic's title hopes
Keena's assessment underlines the scale of the challenge facing their nearest rivals. For St Patrick's Athletic to overtake the champions, they would need a flawless finish to the season while hoping Rovers slip up. The Hoops' form, which includes a 3-1 win over Drogheda United earlier this month, makes that a difficult proposition.
The defending champions, who secured their fifth title in six years last season, are now in control of their own destiny. Their next test is an away trip to face Galway United this Friday. Galway currently sit seventh in the table, and a full list of the squad available for selection is on our squad page. Keena admitted the recent derby defeat to St Patrick's in September was a setback. "It's not ideal, obviously," he said of that 2-0 loss, but pointed to the team's response since then.
With the finishing line in sight, Shamrock Rovers know maintaining their current form will be enough to retain the crown. The team travels to Galway on 16 October looking to extend their lead at the top.
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