10-man Saints edge past UCD

St Patrick’s Athletic 3 UCD 2

St Patrick’s Athletic recorded a ninth successive home league win with a comfortable dismissal of UCD despite Greg Bolger’s straight red card early in the second half.

St Pat’s missed a slew of chances throughout the first half against a side who have won only one league game away from home this season.

Surprisingly, Keith Fahey was guiltiest of all on 17 minutes when he somehow contrived to miss an open goal after Chris Forrester’s square ball had left him a virtual tap-in.

The Ireland international made up for his miss just before the break when he robbed Colm Crowe to glide past James Kavanagh and neatly chip the advancing Conor O’Donnell.

It should have been routine at that stage but Bolger mindlessly got himself sent off for a stamp on Crowe. UCD couldn’t take advantage, however, and Conan Byrne finally got the reward his work deserved when he and finished with the outside of the boot from Chris Forrester’s pinpoint through ball.

Eight minutes later UCD left themselves wide open again and Ian Bermingham drilled home from close range.

Hugh Douglas gave UCD some hope when he smashed in late on before Robbie Benson scored a brilliant free-kick with almost the last kick of the game.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: B Clarke; C McCormack, S Hoare, D Foran, I Bermingham; G Bolger, K Fahey, K Brennan (A Greene, 80); C Byrne, C Fagan (L Fitzgerald, 88), C Forrester (G O’Brien, 85).

UCD: C O’Donnell; H Douglas, I Ryan, J Kavanagh, G Matthews (A Ben Mohamed, 65); C Mulhall (C Cannon, 73), R Creevy, R Benson, C Crowe (T Molloy, 65), T O’Halloran; S Belhout.

Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin)