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St. Patrick's Athletic 2 Dundalk 0
Friday, 27 March 2009 08:36
St. Patrick's Athletic's opening day blip can now be well and truly forgotten after they secured their third win in a row with a 2-0 dismissal of Dundalk.


The first half was an entertaining one and although both sides had chances, St. Pat's deservedly led at the break through Mark Leech.


The former Shamrock Rovers striker rose highest on 36 minutes to meet Alan Cawley's perfect free kick to send a header into the bottom corner after Chris Turner had fouled Mark Quigley.


Cawley had served notice of his threat from the dead ball on only the second minute with a free which flew just over before Declan O'Brien fired over at the other end.


Former Saint Dave Rogers nearly put the ball in the Shed End goal from Darragh Ryan's cross as the home side turned up the pressure.


Cawley and Leech both dragged shots wide but at the other end Darren Mansaram showed why Sean Connor brought him back from England by bustling the experienced Jason Gavin out of the way before going down as the defender attempted to recover but Thomas Connolly waved away the appeal.


Ten minutes later the Saints were in front, and it might have been two had Connolly been in more generous mood, ignoring Mark Quigley's claims when he seemed to be bundled over by goalkeeper Chris Bennion.


Ryan Guy brought out a good save in Chris Bennion at the start of the second period, but when the Saints lost Leech to a serious leg injury early in the half they lost their impetus with him.


Dundalk took control, but for all their passing they struggled to make a breakthrough with Harpal Singh's crosses their most dangerous outlet.


Michael Daly did hit the bar after beating Cawley but it was to be as close as they came as another Cawley corner was turned goalward by Damien Lynch for sub Kyle Moran to tap home.


Guy spurned a golden opportunity to add a third when he missed an open goal after beating Bennion but despite losing Dempsey to another serious injury and six minutes injury time they held on comfortably to win.


St. Patrick's Athletic: Rogers; Lynch, Gavin, Partridge, Stevens (Harris 89); Guy, Dempsey (Byrne 87), Cawley, Ryan; Leech (Moran 55), Quigley.


Dundalk: Bennion; Shaun Kelly (Simon Kelly 51), Burns, Heary (Mulvenna 93), Rogers; O'Callaghan, Turner, Daly, Singh; Mansaram, O'Brien (McGinlay 75).


Ref: T Connolly (Dublin)
 
 
 
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