Bohemians and Shels both dropped points tonight in the first round of "early" week games designed to speed up the introduction of Summer football. With so many games in such a short space of time, the next two weeks have been identified by a number of top managers as crucial for their prospects in the Premier Division. Pat's scraped a 2-1 win over Monaghan United in Century Homes Park, Monaghan.
The winning strike came from Colm Foley with a 25 yard drive through a packed goal area at a time when the homeside was under siege following the sending off of skipper James O'Callaghan in the 44th minute. It was a change of fortune for O'Callaghan who was the scorer of Monaghan's only goal in the 41st minute.
Newly promoted Mons had the territorial advantage in the first-half and Saints keeper Seamus Kelly was the busier of the two.
There was precious little between the sides in the opening exchanges in the second-half and it was against the run of play that Martin Russell scored the equaliser with a well struck free from 25 yards into the left hand top corner of Robert Ford's goal.
United had the better of the exchanges that followed and had a couple of chances before O'Callaghan's sending off which turned the game St Patrick's way.
Pat's next two opponents will be Dundalk and Bohs. Dundalk served warning of their threat by beating the double winners Bohemians by three goals to one. Meanwhile Shelbourne were once again fortunate to escape with a point from Tolka Park as their miserable start to the season continued with a 1-1 draw with Derry.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Forde, White, Carville, Carroll, Shiels, Murphy, James O'Callaghan, Mooney, Vaughan, McKenna. Subs: Brunton for Vaughan (70 mins); Bourke for Vaughan (85 mins).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly, Burke, Maguire, Foley, Osam, L Kelly, Crolly, Livingstone, Marney, Russell, Griffin, Subs McCarthy for Marney. Mannion for Livingstone (75 mins), Doyle for Griffin (85 mins).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)
