Pat’s left to rue controversial penalty award

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Galway United 2

A stunning long-range strike from Sean Kelly gave Galway a hat-trick of wins over St Pat’s tonight as they ended their seven-match run without a win at Richmond Park.

Ryan Guy headed home Stephen Maher’s 42nd-minute cross to put Saints deservedly in front at the break.

However, a controversial refereeing decision by Neil Doyle, who awarded a penalty for a dubious handball by St Pat’s defender Jason Gavin when the ball appeared to strike his chest, let Galway back into the game on 56 minutes.

Jay O’Shea, watched by a posse of cross channel scouts, sent Gary Rogers the wrong way from the spot.

There was no doubt about Galway’s winner two minutes later, however, when Kelly latched onto a loose ball to drive a brilliant 30-yard shot to the top corner of Rogers’ net.