Mikey dedicates stunner to Wright
Michael O’Halloran bounced off the bench to score a sensational late winner in his second time around Saints debut.
And he later insisted it was the perfect way to repay gaffer Tommy Wright for rescuing him from the Ibrox wilderness. The on-loan Ranger struck with his first goal since April, 2016 to break Kilmarnock’s hearts with just two minutes left of a match Kris Boyd had looked like rescuing for the Ayrshire side with a magnificent 30-yard free kick. But O’Halloran, who’d replaced Stefan Scougall shortly after Boyd cancelled out David Wotherspoon’s opener on the hour, had other ideas and was thrilled to help Saints head back to Perth with an opening-day three points. He admitted: “I couldn’t have asked for a better start. We started well and were in control but the gaffer said he would try to give me half an hour so I was ready to come on. “The last game I started was back in January so it was good to get on and to score was great. “Brian Easton gave me it early and it opened up. I kept going then pulled the trigger and it went in, I’m delighted. “My conf idence has always been fine but it was just a lack of games, that’s why I came back here. The gaffer knows how to get the best out of me so I hope that goal repays him a little.”
Saints were on the front foot from the start so it was no surprise when they took the lead after nine minutes and although the quality of the strike from Wotherspoon was excellent, the defending from the Kilmarnock rearguard wasn’t.
Graham Cummins fed the midfielder and he ran at Kirk Broadfoot unchallenged.
A stepover on to Wotherspoon’s left foot was all that was needed before the ball was belted high past keeper Jamie MacDonald from 14 yards.
On the half -hour, a shocking pass f rom Broadfoot was almost punished by Murray Davidson, who latched on to it and fired a 40-yard shot over MacDonald who watched it clip the top of the bar and go over.
Killie went in at the break to a chorus of boos from their fans but Lee McCulloch’s decision to throw on Lee Erwin for Chris Burke 11 minutes after the restart and going to 4- 4-2 pepped them up.
Within two minutes an Erwin flick had sent Jordan Jones away and when the winger was pulled back by Scougall, who was booked, Boyd provided greater punishment.
The striker produced a sweet strike into the top corner from almost 30 yards to level the contest.
Wright immediately sent on O’Halloran for Scougall but Killie still looked the likelier. Boyd set up Erwin for a shot beaten away by Alan Mannus and the captain, on the follow-up, saw his shot blocked.
He was even unluckier in the 72nd minute when he smashed a shot off the bar though the Saints keeper did get his fingertips to it.
And yet it was O’Halloran who won it with two minutes to go.
The winger danced through three challenges as he made his way across the 18- yard line before cutting in and slamming home.
It was hard on Killie after their second-half show but it was a goal was worthy of winning any match.