ACE HOBAN PREYED ON THE SAINTS
St Patrick’s Athletic Dundalk
3 CALL up the stats beforehand and this looked like a handy three points for the league leaders at Richmond Park.
The result might even suggest that was the case but in reality it was anything but.
Three second half goals overturned a half-time deficit and delivered a record-equalling 10th successive league win for the Lilywhites.
Not only that, the win extends their summit lead to four points.
St Pat’s, meanwhile, had hoped to avoid a badly unwanted record – a seventh straight league defeat for the first time in the club’s history.
The hosts failed to prevent that, despite taking a 25th minute lead through Jake Keegan, and despite throwing the kitchen sink at Dundalk in a thrilling finish.
With the score at 2-1, Gary Rogers’ superb save denied Killian Brennan’s top-corner bound freekick in the dying minutes and, with only seconds remaining, the visitors broke upfield.
Waterford
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Bohemians
Kristian Adorjan and Robbie Benson teed up the league’s top scorer
Pat Hoban for his second of the night and 21st goal of a prolific campaign.
Stephen Kenny (inset) had cut a frustrated figure at half-time as his players looked out of sync after Pat’s made the breakthrough.
Full of intent at the kick-off, Dylan Connolly was pulled down by Kevin Toner after the Pat’s centrehalf slipped in possession, but Michael Duffy’s free-kick found the middle of the wall.
When Duffy Hoban in the 17th minute he seemed destined to score but Brendan Clarke, starting days after joining the Saints for the third time, made a great save.
And in fact it was Liam Buckley’s charges who struck first.
Simon Madden’s determined run down the right earned Pat’s a corner and, inexplicably, Jake Keegan wasn’t picked up. He headed Killian Brennan’s floated centre in from six yards.
Dundalk almost struck back through Jamie Mcgrath, who got around 1 IT was honours even in the RSC last night as Waterford FC and Bohemians played out an entertaining 1-1 draw.
Bohs started well and had a great chance after 10 minutes but Waterford keeper Matthew Connor saved well from Dinny Corcoran’s drive from inside the penalty area.
At the other end, debutant Noel Hunt came close after a great ball from Paul Keegan but Bohs keeper Shane Supple was more than equal to the strike.
Bohs took the lead after 31 minutes. Kevan Devaney whipped the Toner but was denied by Clarke. From the rebound, Hoban pulled the trigger but Lee Desmond made a goal-saving block. For the remainder of the opening period, though, Dundalk could only muster an incoherent response.
That changed from the restart, however, and Hoban restored parity on 51 minutes.
Lee Desmond lost possession under pressure outside his penalty area and when Duffy found his striker, Hoban wrongfooted Clarke.
Yet it was the Saints who almost scored next, when Ryan Brennan’s clever pass released Conan Byrne. A brilliant block by Dane Massey denied him.
But crucially Dundalk struck next. Picked out by Duffy’s precise cross-field ball, Chris Shields rifled a shot into the far corner.
The Saints were far from finished and Jamie Lennon’s low effort was saved and after Clarke stretched to deny Robbie Benson’s piledriver, Dundalk had to go into survival mode until Hoban’s breakaway third killed the contest off. left-wing corner to the front post where Corcoran flashed his header past Connor.
Corcoran then picked out Keith Ward as Bohs looked for a second but Waterford defender Kenny Browne got back to make the block as the midfielder looked to shot.
Waterford levelled 19 minutes into the second half.
Anthony Buttimer played the advantage from a foul on Noe Baba and Bastien Hery broke down the right, cut inside and fired under Supple.
Waterford almost grabbed a late winner but Supple made smart saves from Rory Feely and Kenny Browne.