Toner bullet shoots down UCD

KEVIN TONER’S first-half winner stretched St Patrick’s Athletic unbeaten run to four games as they dominated at the UCD Bowl.

But with Shamrock Rovers due at Richmond Park on Monday night, St Pat’s may need his side to brush up on their finishing after failing to make the most of their goal chances here.

A 10th straight league defeat, in which they’ve managed just one goal, sees UCD drop to the foot of the table.

St Pat’s were in control from the start against a depleted UCD side who saw key players Gary O’Neill and Neil Farrugia join Shamrock Rovers earlier in the week.

Jake Walker, Ian Bermingham and Simon Madden all had chances before the visitors deservedly took the lead from their fifth corner of the game on 30 minutes.

Mikey Drennan hooked a superb delivery off his left foot to the back spot where defender Toner arrived to power a bullet header past Conor Kearns for his third goal of the season.

Minutes later Kearns batted Bermingham’s drive over the top after Jamie Lennon picked out his skipper’s run.

Just before the interval, the move of the half failed to get its reward as Walker blazed over the bar from Drennan’s pullback after Lennon’s sublime pass put the striker in behind. Drennan, twice, and Chris Forrester had chances before the hour mark as St Pat’s dominated.

Despite fighting a defensive action, UCD remained in the game with Conor Davis volleying a 62nd-minute shot straight at Brendan Clarke. Substitute Darragh Markey got through on goal four minutes from time only to be thwarted by UCD captain Liam Scales’ terrific block-tackle.