Four goals from Conan Byrne gave Saint Patricks Athletic an emphatic
4-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday night. In a
dramatic game both Derek Foran and Sean O'Connor were sent off for the home
team.
The visitors started much better than their opponents and
they took their first chance in the 5th minute. Derek Foran let the
ball bounce and Conan Byrne took advantage. He gathered possession, raced
towards goal and shot low into the corner of the net from about 12 yards out.
Shamrock Rovers did have a couple of opportunities in the
space of 60 seconds soon after. First of
all Ronan Finn volleyed over from about 10 yards out and shortly after Karl
Sheppard hit a decent effort from outside the area which was just too high.
Rovers should have equalized in the 21st minute.
New signing Richie Ryan played it to his left to Danny Ledwith. Ledwith put in
a fine cross to the back post. Sean Connor rose highest but headed over.
It was a very eventful first half. Two minutes later at the
other end Anthony Flood played it in behind the Rovers defence. Man of the
match Conan Byrne was one on one with Richard Brush but the former Shelbourne
player hit it wide.
The Hoops had another chance in the 32nd minute.
Danny Ledwith played it to his left to Gary McCabe. McCabe's right foot cross
was met byS heppard but the Rovers striker’s headed effort ended up
on the wrong side of the post.
That miss was to prove very costly just a minute later.
Anthony Flood got the ball off Derek Foran and raced towards goal. Foran
appeared to push Flood who still managed to get his shot away. Richard Brush
made the save but referee Anthony Buttimer gave a penalty to Saint Pats and
then sent off Foran. Conan Byrne sent Brush the wrong way from the spot to make
it 2-0.
Things went from bad to worse for Trevor Crolly's team in the
53rd minute. Chris Forrester raced towards goal. Sean O'Connor
tracked him back. Forrester, who was still outside the area, went down under a
challenge from his former teammate and referee Buttimer gave a freekick and
sent off O'Connor as there was no covering defender.
The Saints took advantage against the nine men and went 3-0
up soon after. Conan Byrne took a quick free kick to Chris Forrester.
Forrester found himself in space in the area. Ronan Finn fouled him and Byrne
stepped up to put the penalty into the corner of the net past substitute
goalkeeper Barry Murphy for his hatrick.
In the 63rd
minute the visitors got their fourth and final goal of the match. Stephen Maher
crossed from the right. Anto Flood headed goalwards. Barry Murphy made the save
low to his left but Byrne followed up to put it into the empty net.
Both Flood and Ian
Bermingham were denied by fine saves from Murphy in the final quarter as Pats
cruised to victory to maintain their one point lead over Dundalk at the top of
the table.
Saint Patricks Athletic manager Liam
Buckley looked particularly pleased at the end of the 90 minutes as he raised
his hand triumphantly to the Pats supporters. Will he be pleased at the end of the season as his side continue their
title challenge?
Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush (Barry Murphy 46):
Conor McCormack, Derek Foran, Pat Sullivan, Conor McCormack: Sean O'Connor,
Ronan Finn, Richie Ryan, Shane Robinson, Gary McCabe (David Elebert 36): Karl
Sheppard (Billy Dennehy 77).
Booked: Shane Robinson (29), Pat Sullivan (35), Ronan
Finn (55).
Sent-off: Derek Foran (34), Sean O’Connor (53).
Subs not used: Conor Powell, Eamon Zayed, Nathan Browne, Mark Sandford.
Saint Patricks Athletic: Brendan Clarke: Ger O'Brien,
Conor Kenna (c), Kenny Browne, Ian Bermingham: Conan Byrne, Greg Bolger,
Stephen Maher (Sean Gannon 67), John Russell, Chris Forrester (Daryl Kavanagh
78): Anthony Flood (Christy Fagan 67).
Subs not used: Rene Gilmartin, Aidan Price, Lorcan
Fitzgerald, Jake Kelly.
Booked: Conor Kenna (30), Kenny Browne (93).
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
Man of the match: Conan Byrne (Saint Patricks Athletic).
© Seamus Egan 2013
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