Great Start for Super Saints
Friday, August 10th, 2001
Saint Patrick's Athletic 3 - 0 Galway United
St Patrick's Athletic served up a second half treat for their supporters as Premier Division football resumed in Inchicore last night in an action packed fixture.
The opening goal from Ugandan international Charles Livingstone Mbabazi came after 52 minutes of an evenly fought contest. Galway's faint hopes of matching that strike evaporated completely when captain Billy Clery got himself sent-off for a ridiculous swipe at Ger McCarthy. The resultant penalty kick was duly converted by Martin Russell to make it two-nil and game over. Cleary had reacted violently to McCarthy's late challenge on United keeper Hickey and decided to dish out his own summary justice on the Saints striker by pushing him to the ground in a moment of madness. That led to a nasty bust up between several players at the shed end as tensions boiled over. Referee Hugh Byrne eventually restored order and duly gave Cleary his marching orders while booking another United player for dissent as the tribesmen refused to accept the referee's decision.
The Saints were well in control against the ten men and saved the best til last as a poor back-pass from Darragh Sheridan let in substitute Liam Kelly to add a third goal with a beautifully flighted lob over Galway keeper Hickey. Kelly was a surprising ommission from the starting eleven but made his case for a starting place in the Saints next game away to Shelbourne with a scintillating contribution to a good second half. A good night for the Rush man was capped off by the pre game presentation of his award for Independent Saints Supporters' Club player of the year 2000/01.
Galway had their chances in the first half forcing Shay Kelly to make some crucial saves and Alan Murphy hit the upright on 30 minutes as the visitors made good use of the counter attack.
The Saints also had their chances in a pacey first half as Michael Holt looked lively and central defender Colm Foley shot against the crossbar. Darragh Maguire also had a chance in the first half but while the Saints produced some good build up play they could not find the killer touch in the opening 45 minutes to unlock the defensive minded visitors.
The team performance and the performance of Osam, Marney, Mbabazi will give Saints fans plenty of reason to be confident ahead of the eagerly awaited clash with Dermot Keely's new look Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly; Croly, C Foley, Maguire, Burke; Mbabazi, Marney, Osam, Russell; McCarthy (K Foley 87 mins), Holt (L Kelly 59 mins).
GALWAY UNITED: Hickey; Keady (Thornton 87 mins), Clery, Silke, Fortune; Malee (Forde 86 mins), Sheridan, Crossley, Murphy (Byrne 87mins), Carberry; Ryan.
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin)
• Click here to email a friend about this news story
•
Back to the Home page
