Ton-up Mulcahy completes stunning St Pat’s comeback

DAVE MULCAHY fittingly crowned his 100th appearance for the club with a late winner as St. Patrick’s came from 2-0 down to win a thrilling game at Richmond Park.

Midfielder Mulcahy, playing in central defence in place of injured captain Conor Kenna, forced the ball home at the back post as Dundalk failed to clear Stephen Bradley’s 89th minute corner.

That completed a dramatic turnaround after brothers David and Evan McMillan scored inside three minutes either side of the hour mark to tie the match.

Trailing to Mark Quigley’s brilliant double, St Pat’s began their revival on 59 minutes when the younger McMillan, David, got a break in the box, after Dundalk failed to clear Paul Crawley’s ball, to drill to the corner of the net.

Further poor defending from stand-in captain Bradley’s corner three minutes later resulted in central defender Evan heading to the net, after Mulcahy headed the ball back into the area.

That changed the game utterly as Dundalk’s vibrancy going forward appeared to have them in control five minutes into the second half when Quigley got his second.

Visiting winger Daniel Kearns, possibly the reason for the presence of Reading boss Brian McDermott, played Simon Madden away in space on the right and his cross was finished to the net by Quigley with a stunning bicycle kick with his back to goal.

Kearns had made telling early contributions, culminating in Dundalk’s equally superb lead goal on 17 minutes.

In a classic counterattack, Kearns took possession to play a sublime diagonal pass to Jason Byrne. The lay-off from Byrne was first-time as Quigley arrived to sweep the ball to the corner of the net with a crisp low drive.

A pulsating, high tempo game, should have seen St Pat’s level on 35 minutes.

North’s unintended pass ran through for Anto Murphy in space on the right. The low inviting cross needed a touch, but David McMillan took his eye off the ball and completely missed his kick dead in front of goal.

Dundalk were excellent in the final third, though, and always looked a threat as St Patrick’s had Rogers to thank for not being 2-0 down at the interval.

Byrne made good headed contact with a Kearns’ corner and Rogers had to go full stretch to push the ball round his left-hand post.

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, E. McMillan, Mulcahy, Bermingham; Murphy, McFaul (Crowley, h/t), Bradley, Doyle; North, D. McMillan (Flood , 90+3).

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hector, Hawkins, Murphy; Kearns, Bolger, Ward (Maher, 63), Gaynor; Byrne, Quigley.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).