Doncaster vs St Patrick's Athl.

Doncaster raced into a three-goal lead inside the first 33 minutes. Matthew Pearson opened the scoring in the 15th minute, finishing calmly after a patient build-up. Luke Molyneux doubled the advantage from the penalty spot two minutes later — a quick-fire double that left St Pat's on the back foot. Brandon Hanlan made it 3-0 in the 33rd minute, converting from close range to cap a dominant first-half display from Grant McCann's side.

St Patrick's emerged with renewed purpose after the interval. A yellow card for a St Pat's player in the 67th minute was followed by a Doncaster caution a minute later, and from that stoppage the hosts won a penalty. Sam Rooney converted from the spot in the 69th minute, giving the hosts a foothold. Jay McClelland then scored in the 78th minute to make it 3-2 and set up a tense final quarter.

But Hanlan restored Doncaster's two-goal cushion in the 84th minute, finishing his second of the night to seal a 4-2 win for the visitors.

Doncaster's third goal in the 33rd minute effectively killed the contest as a contest before half-time. St Pat's showed character to fight back to 3-2, but the two-goal deficit at the break meant they always had a mountain to climb. McCann's double substitution at the 59th minute — introducing goalkeeper Tommy Simkin for J. Oram and Sam Straughan Brown for P. Alex — gave Rovers fresh legs at a key moment and helped stem St Pat's second-half momentum.

Brandon Hanlan (Doncaster) — Two goals (33', 84'), the second a calm finish to kill off St Pat's fightback. His movement caused problems throughout.

Matthew Pearson (Doncaster) — Opened the scoring with a composed finish in the 15th minute and set the tone for Rovers' early dominance.

Sam Rooney (St Patrick's Athletic) — Converted the penalty in the 69th minute that sparked St Pat's second-half revival.

Jay McClelland (St Patrick's Athletic) — Scored St Pat's second in the 78th minute to briefly make it a one-goal game, raising hopes of an unlikely comeback.

Doncaster scored three times in the opening 33 minutes, reflecting a sharpness that belied their early pre-season stage. St Patrick's, who are mid-season in the League of Ireland Premier Division, responded with two second-half goals — a reminder that the hosts had competitive match rhythm on their side. The 4-2 scoreline flattered Doncaster's first-half dominance slightly, but the gap in sharpness was not as wide as the early scoreline suggested. Hanlan's late strike settled the game just as St Pat's had built momentum.

For Doncaster, this is a confident start to their Irish pre-season tour — the first of three fixtures in the Republic of Ireland as they build toward the 2026/27 League One season. McCann named a 26-man travelling squad and used the depth of his panel, with the competitive minutes against a mid-season League of Ireland side offering a sterner test than many pre-season friendlies provide.

For St Patrick's Athletic, the defeat is a minor setback in a mid-season friendly, but the manner of their second-half fightback — scoring twice through Rooney and McClelland — will encourage manager Stephen Kenny as they prepare for their FAI Cup second-round tie against Wexford on 17 July.

A useful workout for both sides. Doncaster's first-half sharpness was impressive for a team just starting pre-season, while St Pat's second-half recovery showed the competitive edge of a side in the middle of a league campaign. Hanlan's double was the decisive individual contribution.