St Patrick’s Athletic 5
Dundalk 2
ST PATRICK’S ATHELTIC put in a convincing performance to beat newly-crowned three-in-a-row Premier Division champions Dundalk at Richmond Park tonight.
The Lilywhites suffered their heaviest defeat of manager Stephen Kenny’s four-year tenure thanks to a double from Conan Byrne as well as goals from Christy Fagan, Ian Bermingham and Jonathan Lunney. Dean Shiels and Michael O’Connor replied for the visitors.
Having sealed the title just 48 hours previously, Stephen Kenny made nine changes to the side which beat Bohemians, with Gary Rogers and Alan Keane the only players to retain their places. And there was a drop in intensity from his fringe players who looked off the pace.
Liam Buckley on the other hand named an experienced Pat’s side as he seemed intent on seeing out their last couple of games on a positive note. One of his most experienced palyers, Fagan, was to the fore. In an open start to the game, Shiels scuffed a good chance into the side netting before Fagan turned Alan Keane and hit a powerful effort from outside the area wide, but he didn’t have to wait long to open the scoring.
He again got inside Keane to set Conan Byrne away down the right before the winger pulled back from the end line to find his front-man, who moved his league tally for the campaign into double figures with an easy finish.
On 26 minutes it was two as Fagan turned provider after an excellent team move. Lunney zipped a pass to Fagan’s feet which allowed the striker to neatly lay off first time to the on rushing Byrne, who hammered into the bottom corner.
Less than 10 minutes later it was 3-0 as Fagan and Byrne combined again. Youngster Carlton Ubaezuono, who had come on as an early substitute for the injured Shane Grimes, was caught out badly as Byrne got inside the full-back after being found by Fagan before calmly slotting across Rogers and just inside the post.
Ubaezouno was showing his inexperience at this level again as he left space down the wing which allowed Byrne to skip by Keane before squaring to Ian Bermingham, who had stormed forward from left back to smash into the top corner to give Pat’s a four-goal lead inside 40 minutes.
Kenny showed his ruthless streak at the break to bring on Brian Gartland for the erroneous Ubaezuono and the champions had one back inside two minutes of the resumption, with Shiels toe poking home from six yards.
It was as if it took Dundalk’s players 45 minutes to realise they were playing for a place in their manager’s cup final plans as they looked a different side, with O’Connor going close before he did find the net when Sean Gannon crossed from the left and his close-range effort trickled over the line.
Gartland, fresh from scoring the title-deciding goal against Bohs, marauded forward to try to add to his impressive league tally of seven goals, but he saw his shot blocked.
Then Lunney, who was making his full debut, notched a fifth to cap a fine night for Liam Buckley’s charges. After a neat interchange from Fagan and substitute Jamie McGrath, Lunney launched an unstoppable shot into the top corner to send Pat’s back into the top half.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Rory Feely, Sean Hoare, Ian Bermingham (Ciaran Kelly, 88); Sam Verdon, Jonathan Lunney, Conan Byrne, Graham Kelly (Jamie McGrath, 68), Stephen Kinsella; Christy Fagan.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Alan Keane, Paddy Barrett, Shane Grimes (Carlton Ubaezuono, 18) (Brian Gartland, 46); Georgie Poynton, Dean Shiels, Ciaran O’Connor, Robbie Benson, Keith Valton (John Mountney, 71); Michael O’Connor.
Referee: Robert Harvey