St Patrick’s Athletic went top of the Eircom Premier Division tonight after a 2-0 victory over Dundalk at Oriel Park. Unfortunately Dundalk fans marred the occassion with racist abuse of Charlie Babaz and the buring of Saints Flags.
The homeside had a few openings in the first half but found the Saints defence far superior to the mediocre Bohs team they faced two weeks ago. Dundalk's Man of the Match James Keddy had his shot cleared off the line early on.
With their greater flair St Patrick’s opened the scoring on 38 minutes when Mbabazi Livingstone steered the ball home from close range, although Osam and Liam Kelly may have had equal claim to the first score as the ball had clearly crossed the line an incredible two occassions before the referee adjudged the third strike a clear cut goal.
Dundalk pressed for an equaliser after the interval and were cruelly denied when a David Ward effort came back off the post. Their predicament worsened when Stephen McGuinness was sent off for a second bookable offence on 66 minutes. Typical Stevo recklessness that saw him transfered to the first division club last season.
Super Saint Sub Gavin Doyle secured the points for the Dubliners when he latched onto a Liam Kelly cross nine minutes from the end to slot home in fine style as the Saints supplied the perfect response to the Monkey Chants of 20/30 drunken Dundalk supporters in the Shed. A sad night for the league, but a good night for Pats who now go top and await the outcome of the Shels interference in the Marney affair to see if they stay there. Meanwhile charges have been pressed against one of the Shels board who is appealing the Marney Case. Oliver Byrne, Shels' secretary, has been charged by a Derry fan for assault arising out of hooligan incidents at Tolka Park in a recent fixture.
ST PATRICK'S: Kelly; Croly, Foley, Maguire, Burke; Mannion , Russell, Osam; Mbabazi, Kelly McCarthy.
subs: Marney, Doyle, Harris
Dundalk: .
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
