Impressive St Pat’s give Students a lesson
The Saints had an early chance when striker Daryl Kavanagh sent in a low cross from the left only for Danny North to shoot straight into the arms of goalkeeper Ger Barron.
But the Inchicore men were not to be denied and had their noses in front on 12 minutes when another clever Kavanagh cross was touched on by defender Evan McMillan for winger Derek Doyle to shoot home from close range.
St. Pat’s again went close when North chipped a shot just over the bar after Jordan Keegan had created an opening.
The Students were under the cosh for most of the first half with North and Dave Mulcahy both going close to increasing the lead.
Perhaps against the run of play, College were level on 31 minutes when the visitors failed to clear a corner by skipper Paul Corry. Winger Dean Marshall sent over a cross which was powerfully headed home by central defender David O’Connor.
St. Patrick’s might have had a penalty on 65 minutes when defender Sean Harding appeared to take down Kavanagh inside the box, but Dublin referee Rob Rogers allowed play to continue.
But Pete Mahon’s men had their noses in front again just a minute later.
This time a corner by skipper Stephen Bradley allowed livewire Kavanagh to steal in with a glancing header from close range to the corner of the net with the home defence in disarray.
The game was then all over as a contest on 82 minutes when North drilled the ball home from the edge of the box after the impressive Kavanagh had created a brilliant opening.
It was a goal that only served to emphasis St. Patrick’s overall dominance against a UCD side who have now lost their fourth game in-a-row.
UCD: Barron; Harding (Morrison 78), D. O’Connor, T. Boyle, Nangle; Marshall, Corry, P. O’Connor, Benson (S. Doyle 66), Meenan; Rusk.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, McMillan, Shortall, Carroll; Keegan (Stewart 74), Bradley, Mulcahy, D. Doyle (McFaul 59); Kavanagh (McMillan 90), North.
Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).
