Pat’s fight back to stun Rovers
Nolan winner adds to Hoops woes
AROLLICKING night In Inchicore saw the Saints march on up the table after a stunning comeback win against the champions.
Rovers were fair value for their half-time lead through Darragh Nugent’s early header but in an explosive second half, Pat’s struck in quick succession through Joe Redmond and Alex Nolan to turn the contest upside down.
Rovers felt they were denied a clear-cut penalty when Josh Honohan hit the turf after surging into the box and thereafter couldn’t conjure up an equaliser for all their possession.
After Danny Rogers had smothered an injury-time header from Seán Hoare, the final whistle blew moments later and the Saints faithful erupted — this result mattered, and it lifts Pat’s a point above Rovers.
After Monday’s modest fare at Tolka Park, this was a cracker by the Camac.
By the break, everyone in the full house of 5,015 needed a breather, although Rúairí Keating required tea and sympathy after limping off in clear discomfort.
Rovers struck early, and could have scored more before the Saints cleared the stars from their eyes and landed a few blows of their own.
Nugent drew first blood with a precise header into the corner beyond Rogers after being picked out by Darragh Burns.
What would have infuriated Jon Daly was the free pass given to Rovers to carry the ball out of defence, the space for Burns to check inside and cross, and Nugent being left free.
For a team with three clean sheets in their previous four games, the Saints were peeled open like a soft orange.
Sensing a weakness, Rovers were rampant. Graham Burke glided into a shooting position and wasn’t far away with a leftfoot rasper.
Honohan, such a find this season, then surged into the box and pulled the ball back invitingly for Dylan Watts, whose effort clipped the top of the bar.
The Saints needed to establish a foothold in the face of the green and white onslaught.
In the 17th minute, Anto Breslin worked put over a cross which saw Brandon Kavanagh force a smart reaction save from Leon Pohls. The keeper did even better with a left-sided reaction stop to thwart Luke Turner but the flag was up for offside.
Keating was presented with the pick of the Pat’s chances when he latched on Kian Leavy’s through ball and got first run on the Rovers defence.
Rather than shoot early, he took the ball into the box and allowed Roberto Lopes shift him on to his left-foot, which led to a tame effort into the side netting.
If the Saints started the first half sluggishly, the same accusation could be levelled at the champions on the restart.
First, they were out manoeuvred at a free kick when Kavanagh’s inch-perfect in-swinger was met by Redmond’s header.
Richmond Park was rocking and the volume was ratcheted up moments later after Pohls under-hit a clearance in his box which was intercepted by the busy Kavanagh.
The winger took the ball to the by-line and then squared it back for Nolan to smash a left-footer into the rigging.
It was the 21-year-old’s first league goal for the Saints and he enjoyed the moment hugely.
The champions had time to rescue their situation and had justifiable claims for a penalty when Honohan, put through by Watts, appeared to be pushed in the back as he rounded Rogers.
Rovers kept probing and pressing, but the Saints’ red line held firm. ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Turner, Redmond, Keely, Breslin; Lennon, Bolger; B Kavanagh (C Kavanagh 74), Leavy (Forrester h-t), Nolan (McClelland 84); Keating (Melia 39). Scorers: Redmond 53, Nolan 55. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls; Cleary, Lopes, Hoare; Burns, Watts (Towell 86), Poom (O’Neill 86), Honohan (Clarke 74); Burke; Greene, Nugent (Noonan 86). Scorer: Nugent 4. Referee: D McGraith (Mayo)
zA minute’s silence was observed before Cork City’s game against Cobh Ramblers last night as a mark of respect for the late Kelly Healy, wife of Colin, City’s former player and manager, and mother of City player Arran.