Kavanagh wins it for Pat’s

A LATE Daryl Kavanagh goal gave St Patrick’s a rare win at Dalymount to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games and lift them above Bohemians into fourth place.

Tipperary man Kavanagh was the difference between the sides with a striker’s goal on 76 minutes to give his teams its reward for their second-half endeavours.

Bohemians were caught flat as Kavanagh ran onto keeper Gary Rogers’ long clearance. He then cut back onto his left foot to drill a low shot past Chris O’Connor.

The home side were incensed seven minutes later when denied what they felt was a clearcut penalty. Captain Owen Heary thought he was hauled down just inside the box by Saints right-back Neil Harney. But referee Derek Tomney waved the claims away and booked Heary for his protest.

Kavanagh should have extended St Patrick’s winning margin in stoppage time but O’Connor saved well with his feet. Bohemians did pass the ball well, carving the first real opening on 19 minutes with Robert Bayly having a shot blocked away for a corner off Derek Doyle.

In-form St Pat’s didn’t threaten until the 28th minute when the McMillan brothers combined on the right, striker David putting his side foot volley over the bar from central defender Evan’s cross.

But Bohemians responded immediately as Killian Brennan got in behind the St Patrick’s rearguard to bring a save off the feet of Rogers. Keith Buckley fired the rebound just over the top. With more urgency and fluidity, Bohemians were the better side now. Rogers was called into action again on 38 minutes when touching a shot on the turn from Anto Flood round a post after Heary raided down the right to cross.

A few choice words from manager Pete Mahon at the interval sparked St Patrick’s into life and they had far more impetus from the resumption.

Kavanagh’s pace and footwork brought him past Aidan Price to force a save from Chris O’Connor nine minutes in.

BOHEMIANS: O’Connor; Heary, Burns, Price, Cahill 9Fagan, 69 mins.); Forrester (Burke, 78 mins.), Bayly, Brennan , Buckley (Cronin, 57 mins.); Traynor; Flood.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Harney, E. McMillan, Shortall, Pender; Murphy (Stewart, 79), Crowley (McFaul, 89), Bradley, Doyle; Kavanagh, D. McMillan (Daly, 86).

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).