- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, Sep 03 2022
Patrick O’ Connor reports from Richmond Park
St Patrick's Athletic consolidated their fourth placed position in the league table when they had a hard earned 2-1 win over Finn Harps at a balmy Richmond Park on Friday evening.
That result, coupled with results elsewhere, means that they can now also legitimately have designs on the second and third place slots as only eight points now separate the top four sides in the league.
Harps, for their part, remain unchanged on 18 points down in ninth position but they played well enough last night to feel they deserve to remain in the top flight for next season.
The Donegal side, with Gavin Dykes patrolling the side line instead of the suspended Ollie Horgan, started the better of the two teams but they were rocked by a lightning quick counter attack which led to the opening goal on 15 minutes.
St Pats won the ball in midfield through the tenacious Adam O’ Reilly who fed Serge Atakayi on the left wing, he slipped Anto Breslin through and Breslin’s low cross from the bye line was met by the unmarked Chris Forrester who stroked the ball past Jamie McKeown for an excellent goal.
Harps had no time to recover from that early setback when they conceded a second goal three minutes later.
This move started on the opposite right wing when the athletic Barry Cotter got to the end line and his cross evaded McKeown with wing back Breslin on hand in an advanced position to fire home from close range.
The response from the Donegal side was impressive however as they clawed one goal back in the 24th minute.
The hard-working Eric McWoods did all the spadework, making great progress along the right wing before firing the ball across to Barry McNamee who tapped it in with ease past Danny Rogers.
Both sides had further chances to add to their tally before the break with the best of those falling to the Saints. Forrester almost scored from a free kick and Atakayi tested McKeown from the edge of the box but it remained 2-1 to the home side at half time.
The second half was also very high intensity with both sides enjoying periods of dominance. McNamee, Gary Boylan and Elie Gael N’Zeyi worked tirelessly in midfield for the visitors but they, as well as strikers McWoods and Filip Mihaljevic, found it difficult to break down the home defence where Joe Redmond was in superb form.
Harps had Liam McGing red carded for a foul on O’ Reilly in the 86th minute and that put an end to their chances of forcing an equaliser.
The Saints went on to close out the game impressively and they now sit on 48 points, only four points behind second placed Derry City with both teams having played 28 games.
St Patricks Athletic: Danny Rogers; Barry Cotter, Harry Brockbank, Sam Curtis, Joe Redmond, Anto Breslin, Serge Atakayi (Mark Doyle 67) Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon, Adam O’ Reilly, Eoin Doyle (Tunde Owolabi 76)
Subs not used: David Odumosu (GK), Jason McLelland, Ben McCormack, Tom Grivosti, Ronan Coughlan, Billy King, Thijs Timmerman.
Booked: Barry Cotter (85).
Finn Harps: James McKeown; Jose Carillo, Gary Boylan, Ethan Boyle, Liam McGing, Regan Donelon (Mark Timlin 75) Elie Gael N'Zeyi, Barry McNamee, Filip Mihaljevic (Jamie Siah 88), Dylan Duncan (Rob Jones 75), Eric McWoods.
Subs not used: Gavin Mulreany(GK), Luke Rudden, Adam McCaffrey, Rob Slevin, Harry Nicolson, Damian Duffy.
Booked: Gary Boylan (60), Eric McWoods (73), Elie Gael N’Zeyi (75),
Sent off: Liam McGing (88).
Referee: Ray Matthews
extratime.com Player of the Match: Joe Redmond (St Patrick’s Athletic)
