- Andrew Dempsey
- Tue, Jun 22 2021
Andrew Dempsey reports from Richmond Park
St Patrick’s Athletic moved top of the table on goals scored as they saw off Finn Harps in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 success.
A brace from Ronan Coughlan and goals from Robbie Benson and Alfie Lewis sealed the deal for an imperious Saints side who had to wait to get into full flow.
Stephen O’Donnell’s Saints have impressed this year – with the Inchicore outfit sitting pretty in second position after Friday’s comfortable win over Sligo Rovers.
And O’Donnell – who was watching the game from the stand as he serves a ban – went with an unchanged side for the third game in a row.
Harps on the other hand came into the game having lost 2-1 at home to local rivals Derry City – with a Will Patching brace sending them on their way to a defeat.
And from that loss against the Candystripes, Ollie Horgan made two alterations as Karl O’Sullivan was forced to miss out with suspension.
As expected, the hosts started with plenty of attacking endeavor, and they almost opened the scoring in the third minute through John Mountney.
He was found at the back post by Lewis’ ball into the box, but the ex-Dundalk star could not convert.
But the Saints struggled to break down their visitors in much of the first-half – with Horgan’s charges remaining disciplined and resolute.
And that discipline almost yielded its reward on the break as they broke with intensity from a Lewis free-kick.
The free broke down after Shane McEleney’s headed clearance fell to Tunde Owolabi on the counter-attack.
The pacey forward broke free – but when he tried to put the ball to Adam Foley, it was intercepted by Lee Desmond.
They then had another chance to open the scoring but what looked like a strong penalty claim was waved away by referee Rob Harvey as Owolabi was felled by Viteslav Jaros.
However, they were dealt a sucker punch in the 38th minute as Coughlan opened the scoring with a superb turn and finish.
The Limerick native was found by Lewis before he then turned and shot – beating Mark McGinley with the aid of the cross bar as the hosts took a fortunate lead into the break.
The Saints built on their fortuitous first-half lead despite a change of shape from Harps who shifted into a 4-4-2.
Robbie Benson got his name on the scoresheet in the 62nd minute as he slotted home past McGinley.
The former-UCD midfielder passed home after being teed up by Coughlan to all but end the game as a contest.
The former Sligo Rovers forward then turned creator to scorer moments later – tapping home at the back post after some industrious play from sub Darragh Burns.
Foley would however score a consolation for the visitors just over 15 minutes from time, firing across the face of Jaros and into the back of the net.
But that mattered little as the Athletic made it 4-1 with just under five minutes to play as Lewis dinked over McGinley and into the back of the net.
The result is Pats’ third in a row since the break – and they are now top of the table at the expense of Shamrock Rovers on goals scored.
St. Patrick's Athletic: Vitezslav Jaros; Paddy Barrett, Ian Bermingham (c), Lee Desmond, John Mountney; Robbie Benson (Ben McCormack 82), Chris Forrester, Billy King (Darragh Burns 61), Alfie Lewis, Matty Smith (Jason McClelland 78); Rónán Coughlan.
Subs not used: Sam Bone, Kian Corbally, Josh Keeley, Thomas Lonergan, Barry Murphy, Daniel Norris.
Booked: None
Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Will Seymore, Kosovar Sadiki (Joel Bradley Walsh 79), Shane McEleney, Ethan Boyle; Ryan Rainey, Barry McNamee, Mark Coyle, Conor Barry (Tony McNamee 67); Tunde Owolabi (Sean Boyd 67), Adam Foley (Luke Rudden 87).
Subs not used: Luke McNicholas, John Dunleavy, Ryan Connolly, Stephen Black.
Booked: Kosovar Sadiki (77) .
Referee: Robert Harvey
Attendance: 200.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Alfie Lewis (St Patrick’s Athletic).
