Bohemians 0
St Patrick’s Athletic 1
Dave Donnelly reports from Dalymount Park
DEAN CLARKE’S FIRST St Patrick’s Athletic goal was enough to earn the Saints a 1-0 away victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
Clarke tapped into an empty net after great work from Simon Madden, after Keith Ward had seen an early penalty for the hosts come back off the post.
There were just over five minutes on the clock when Oscar Brennan was fouled in the area by Lee Desmond and Keith Ward was presented with a chance from the spot.
Ward’s penalty attempt was uncharacteristically tame, however, and he saw his shot trickle back off the post and into the arms of the grateful Barry Murphy.
Bohs continued to have more of the play but Pat’s created the first chance from open play as Conan Byrne crossed low for the arriving Clarke, but the winger couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball.
He made amends shortly after as he broke the deadlock following good interplay down the right between Byrne and full-back Simon Madden.
Jamie Lennon’s long ball set Byrne free and he cut back for Madden, whose first cross was sliced by Ryan Brennan, but his second attempt slid under Supple for Clarke to smash home.
The home side didn’t register a shot from open play until the 40th minute, and they should have levelled when Kevin Devaney floated a ball in for Corcoran, but Murphy saved the meek effort.
Pats began to twist the screw in the final quarter as Kevin Toner and Darragh Markey had goalbound headers well-saved, but one goal was enough in the end as they leapfrog the Gypsies.
BOHEMIANS: Supple; Pender, Casey, Cornwall, Leahy; O Brennan, Buckley, Ward (Watts 71), Devaney (Kavanagh 62), Stokes; Corcoran (Manley 62).
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Murphy; Madden, Toner, Desmond, Bermingham; Garvan, Lennon (Markey 52), R Brennan. Byrne, Clarke (Turner 73); Fagan (Keegan 76).
Referee: Rob Hennessy