League Report: St Pats 3 - 2 UCD

Only a 92^nd minute strike from Christy Fagan was enough to separate St Pat’s and UCD in Richmond Park on Friday night in a game that saw the home side perform well below par.

It’s said that it is a mark of champions when a team can manage to salvage three points from any game no matter how poorly they perform, and that is exactly what St Pat’s did on Friday.

After an opening day draw with Cork City the Inchicore side came into this game widely expected to pick up three points against a UCD side many have tipped for relegation.

A cool but dry night on the Emmett Road made for good footballing conditions but the atmosphere was decidedly quieter than usual in Richmond Park as the Shed End Invincibles fan group continue to maintain a boycott of home games as a result of a continuing dispute with the club.

The opening 15 minutes lacked any real chances although the home side did show potential as they twice got in behind UCD right-back Michael Barker but could only create half chances.

However it was Barker who would go close for The Students after 20 minutes when his first time strike following a quick free-kick flew narrowly wide of Brendan Clarke’s right-hand post.

A constant in Liam Buckley’s side since his signing from Shelbourne at the start of last season has been Conan Byrne. The right winger was impressive all last season netting nine league goals. It didn’t take him long to open his account this term either when he put the home side ahead after 25 minutes.

A lofted ball over the top from Greg Bolger in the centre of midfield caught the UCD defence napping as Byrne evaded the offside trap to run at Conor O’Donnell before slotting it into the net.

The Saints now had a spring in their step as they launched more attacks at the UCD defence. Byrne should possibly have had a second goal on 35 minutes with a volley from the edge of the box that he fired over the bar and over the Shed End stand.

The game would be turned on its head just before half-time however when UCD equalised and then went ahead in the space of three minutes, both goals courtesy of Chris Mulhall. On 39 minutes a low Cillian Morrison cross from the right wing found Mulhall completely unmarked on the penalty spot, allowing him to slot home.

Just three minutes later the visitors went ahead when Mulhall’s perfectly struck free-kick following a Ken Oman foul on Mark Langtry found the bottom corner from 25 yards.

The home side were stunned and looked glad to hear the referee’s whistle shortly afterwards allowing them to get into the dressing room and regroup.

Daryl Kavanagh was introduced for Lee Lynch at the start of the second half as well as the forced substitution of Connor McCormack for the injured Greg Bolger at right back. Kavanagh coming in on the left wing allowed Forrester to move into the middle, adding more creativity to the attack.

Pat’s were dealt a blow ten minutes into the second period however when Keith Fahey had to be withdrawn with a knee injury.

After sustained pressure with no real end product Pat’s got themselves back into the game courtesy of a set piece that was identical to UCD’s second goal. After Forrester was taken down by Robbie Creevy, Conan Byrne stepped up to clip the free-kick into the same bottom corner that Mulhall had found earlier.

Again the game looked to be turning the way of the home side but they still needed goalkeeper Brendan Clarke to pull off a magnificent double save to keep the scores level on the 70th minute.

First Gareth Matthews was denied from distance by Clarke before the netminder quickly got back to his feet to save Creevy’s follow up shot from close range, the ball then falling to the feet of Robbie Benson who fired over.

Pat’s failed to create any sort of meaningful chance until the final dying minutes when Christy Fagan stepped up to break UCD hearts. A lobbed header from Forrester over the stranded O’Donnell was only punched back to the youngster who lobbed a ball to the back post where Fagan hammered home.

It was a cruel blow for UCD to take in a game where they probably deserved at least a point but it’s a sign of a top team that they will always dig deep right until the end.

St Patrick’s Ath: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien (c) (Connor McCormack 46), Ken Oman, Kenny Browne, Ian Bermingham; Greg Bolger; Conan Byrne, Keith Fahey (James Chambers 57), Lee Lynch (Daryl Kavanagh 46), Chris Forrester; Christy Fagan.
Subs not used: Rene Gilmartin; Derek Foran, Mark Quigley, Sam Verdon.

Booked: Ken Oman (41), Kenny Browne (69), Greg Bolger (78).

UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Michael Barker, Ian Ryan, Tomas Boyle, Mark Langtry (Gareth Matthews 63); Chris Mulhall, Robbie Benson, Robbie Creevy, Ayman Ben Mohamed (Samir Belhout 78); Cillian Morrison, Dean Clarke (Gary Burke 89).
Subs not used: Mark McGinley; James Kavanagh, Hugh Douglas, Dwayne Wilson.

Booked: Robbie Creevy (63).

Referee: Paul Tuite

Attendance: 2,500 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Conan Byrne (St Pats Ath).