Galway United 0-3 St Patrick’s Athletic
St Patrick’s Athletic chalked up an impressive SSE Airtricity League Premier Division win over Galway United as both sides finished with 10 men at Eamonn Deacy Park.
John Sullivan’s harsh 40th-minute dismissal scarcely aided Galway’s cause, with the visitors hitting two goals either side of half-time.
In the 44th minute Sean Hoare scored with a firm header and Billy Dennehy supplied a second on 51 for Liam Buckley’s charges.
Graham Kelly was subsequently sent off for Pat’s in the 56th minute, but the Dubliners remained defiant and frustrated Galway with substitute Conan Byrne clipping a late third.
The Saints were bright initially, going close in the 10th minute when Billy Dennehy’s corner found Ian Bermingham on the edge of the area, but the full-back was denied by a Marc Ludden block.
Two minutes later, Mark Timlin had a deflected shot that drifted just wide as Liam Buckley’s team continued to probe.
Galway could have taken the lead on 17, but Pat’s defender Hoare recovered well to thwart Ruairi Keating.
It was an entertaining first half sprinkled with decent opportunities as Galway custodian Conor Winn saved from Darren Dennehy following a Billy Dennehy corner.
As the opening period lingered on, Galway improved considerably with Vinny Faherty forcing a 25th minute reflex stop from Brendan Clarke.
Gaining in belief and confidence Galway, who had made four changes to the team that were beaten by Dundalk, didn’t convert another chance in the 27th minute.
Gary Shanahan’s right wing cross was precise, but Armin Aganovic, making his first league start for the Tribesmen, headed over.
Clarke had to be alert when tipping over a 31st-minute Keating attempt as the match remained interesting.
The locals weren’t happy when Galway skipper Sullivan was dismissed in the 40th minute by referee Padraigh Sutton for a second bookable offence after a foul on Shane McEleney.
An aggrieved Galway quickly suffered another blow as Pat’s hit the front a minute before the break when Hoare headed home a Billy Dennehy corner.
Six minutes after the restart Pat’s extended their advantage when Billy Dennehy unleashed a blistering free kick that rattled the Galway net.
Parity of numbers was restored when Pat’s midfielder Graham Kelly was sent off on 56 after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Marc Ludden.
Galway replacement Enda Curran extracted a good save from Clarke, while Winn pushed away a stinging Billy Dennehy drive.
Three minutes from time Ian Bermingham manufactured space for Byrne, who sealed the deal.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Armin Aganovic, Stephen Walsh (Enda Curran, 63), Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan, John Sullivan, Eric Foley, Kevin Devaney (Conor Melody, 79); Ruairi Keating (Kilian Cantwell, 46), Vinny Faherty.
St Patrick's Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O'Brien, Darren Dennehy, Sean Hoare, Ian Bermingham; David Cawley, Graham Kelly; Mark Timlin (Conan Byrne, 67), Shane McEleneney (Sam Verdon, 58), Billy Dennehy; Jamie McGrath.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton (Clare)
