General
- Friday February 24th, 2023 @ 22:23
Report: Saints 1-0 Shels
Once again Eoin Doyle proved his worth to St Patrick's Athletic as last season's top scorer came off the bench on the hour mark to break the deadlock in the Dublin derby against Shelbourne and rifle home the winning goal on 84 minutes.
Doyle's poaching instincts, were at play as he was lurking on the edge of the area when Shels failed to clear a Vladioslav Kreida corner and his first time effort was struck low into the far corner of Conor Kearns' goal.
It was the second time in a week for the Saints to score from a corner at the away end, following Joe Redmond's equaliser against Derry on the opening night.
Once again another home sell-out crowd were packed into Richmond for this derby encounter and the home fans certainly went home happy after seeing the Saints gain the bragging rights and register their first win of the season.
Shels did cause the fans a late scare in added time when sub Kyle Robinson's towering header crashed off David Odumosu's crossbar and went over.
Former Saint Paddy Barrett did his best to silence the home crowd by attempting a fourth-minute lob from his own half over David Odumosu
While Luke Byrne, was denied by a block from a corner as Pat's defended solidly with Noah Lewis cutting out the danger with one of his long legs helping him to clear another corner.
Neither goalkeeper was tested in the opening half bar a curler by Chris Forrester which Kearns gathered - and later Barrett was the last man back to hack Jamie Lennon's shot off the line and Lewis was just unlucky not to steer the loose ball past Kearns.
Forrester adopted a more advanced role in the second half and Tim Clancy then sprung the two Doyle's from the bench on the hour as St Pat's pressed hard for the vital goal.
Lennon tested Kearns with a fine long range effort but still Shels remained defiant until the man all Saints fans bank on to get them home came up with the goods.
The veteran striker, a prolific scorer over the seasons in England showed how to be clinical and Pats marque capture of last year, going on 35 next month coolly took a touch when the Shels clearance came out to him and struck home another golden goal to send the home fans into wild celebrations.
Shels now move onto another derby, against top of the table Bohemians, searching for their first win with St Pat's heading to Dundalk and then Sligo Rovers in a much happier frame of mind.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: David Odumosu; Sam Curtis, Joe Redmond, Nathan Lewis, Anto Breslin; Jamie Lennon Christy Forrester (Conor Carty 83); Serge Atakayi (Mark Doyle 60), Vladioslav Kreida, Jake Mulraney (Ben McCormack 75); Tommy Lonergan (Eoin Doyle 60).
Not used: Darragh Mooney (gk), Tom Grivosti, Jason McClelland, Thijs Timmermans, John-Alan McGrath.
SHELBOURNE: Conor Kearns; Paddy Barrett, Luke Byrne, Gavin Molloy; JR Wilson, Mark Coyle (Kian Leavy 79), JJ Lunney, Tyreke Wilson (Kameron Ledwidge 60); Mattie Smith, Evan Caffrey (Kyle Robinson 85), Jack Moylan (Shane Farrell 60).
Not used: Scott van der Sluis, Andrew Quinn, Brian McManus, Lewis Temple.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
Report by John Hudson
