Doyle and Daly turn tie around for Pat’s

IT’S next stop Kazakhstan for St Pat’s after two first-half goals and a disciplined second-half performance saw Pete Mahon’s men deservedly turn around their Europa League tie against Iceland’s IBV at Richmond Park last night, winning 2-1 on aggregate.

Dave Mulcahy’s knee problem meant that he failed to make the starting line-up but skipper Stephen Bradley recovered in time to lead Pats to a bright opening by the banks of the Camac. Yet a sweeping, early counter by IBV, which saw the ball moved swiftly up the length of the field before Gary Rogers saved from Thorarinn Ingi Valdimarsson, served notice that the Dubliners would need to keep their wits about them at the back even as they went in search of a vital goal to level the tie.

And the passionate home support didn’t have to wait too long for that. Some extravagant ball-juggling by IBV ‘keeper Abel Dhaira had suggested the visitors were happy enough to slow things down even in the opening 15 minutes but the Ugandan international was left with egg on his face on 23 minutes when he could only palm Daryl Kavanagh’s cross in the general direction of Ian Daly who stretched to find the net from close range with the keeper prostrate on the turf. Much better came from Dhaira’s opposite number a few minutes later when, reacting quickly to save with his foot, Rogers did well to thwart IBV striker Tryggvi Guomundsson.

The Icelandic side always looked suspect in the face of balls floated in from out wide and, in the 37th minute, their failure to deal with a routine free from the left gave Pats the lead on aggregate. Bradley took the set-piece, Danny North headed it on and, after Evan McMillan was able to head it back into the six yard box, Derek Doyle completed a productive little bout of head tennis by nodding home.

Daryl Kavanagh came close to making it safe for Pats in the 65th minute but, after doing well to make space for the shot, saw his effort swing wide of the far post.

As the game went in to time added on, the Pats’ keeper came to the rescue when Matt Garner drove straight at the ‘keeper as IBV made a late, desperate bid to rescue the tie. But it wasn’t to be, and the rousing cheers at the final whistle told you that Pats had added another memorable European victory to add their storied history.

And we already know for sure that they’re in it for the long haul this time.

Meanwhile Fulham progressed to a meeting with Northern Irish side Crusaders next Thursday after drawing nil-all with Faroe Islanders NSI Runavik but going through three-nil on aggregate.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Rogers, Pender, E. McMillan, Shortall (Murphy 84), Bermingham; Bradley, McFaul, Daly (Crowley 76); Kavanagh, North (D McMillan 87), Doyle.

IBV: Dhaira; Mellor, Sigurbjornsson, Christiansen, Garner; Mawejje, F. Olafsson (Hughes 75), Vladimarsson (Borarinsson 81), Jeffs (Sytnik 61), A. Olafsson, Gudmundsson.

Referee: Nerijus Dunauskas (Lithuania)