Galway United 0 - 2 St Patrick's Athletic

St Patrick’s Athletic moved to within just one point of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Airtricity league after beating lowly Galway United by two goals to one at Terryland Park on Tuesday night.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Danny North bundled home the opener in the sixth minute. As the Saints forward powered into the box he found himself one on one with Greg Fleming in the Galway goal. His initial shot was parried away by the big Scotsman but North reacted brilliantly to catch the rebound and open the scoring.

With injuries and suspensions curtailing the preparations for this game in the Galway camp, their makeshift midfield and frontline suffered in the possession stakes. Steve Feeney was preferred up front to Mikey Gilmore who reverted to the left wing, a position that hindered his potential scoring threat. As a consequence the Saints midfield enjoyed much of the possession and territorial advantage. North and Daryl Kavanagh, up front for the Dubliners, were adept at chasing the channels and pulling the Galway defence out of shape but without any urgent support from their midfield counterparts chances were few and far between for the opening 25 minutes.

As frustration crept into the Galway performance Steve Feeney collected what would be the first of two yellow cards for a high challenge after he went over the ball, he was lucky to stay on the park.

North hit a speculative effort from twenty five yards that had Fleming scampering but the ball just didn't come down quick enough and sailed out of play.

That effort was the catalyst to a purple patch for the visitors who began to smell blood before halftime. Gary Kelly had to be at his defensive best to block North scoring his second goal when a scramble in the Galway area following a corner presented the lively forward with a golden chance from six yards. A few moments later and Fleming almost gifted the visitors a goal when he came out to meet a ball over the top. North beat him to the ball however and, with the keeper stranded, attempted to find a teammate. But his cross was defended by Evan Preston Kelly.

Pats best chance to add to their lead before halftime came shortly after however when Anto Murphy neatly turned Gary Kelly inside the Galway box. His shot, however, came back at him with interest after crashing off the post. Mikey Gilmore, possibly the most consistent performer in the Galway ranks in recent weeks, gave Pats a warning of the threat he poses on the break when he came in off the wing to pull a smart save out of Gary Rogers in the Pats goal.

Brian Shortall and Gilmore traded further chances before the interval, the former when he met Neil Harney low cross but the Pats defender shot wide. Gilmore, on 43 minutes, moved into a more forward position and nearly got the Tribesmen back on level terms when he held off two challenges to pull out a shot. He dragged the ball wide however and the side went into the break with just one goal between them.

North went close again at the beginning of the second half when he stretched to meet Daryl Kavanagh’s teasing cross but the front man missed out by the length of his studs. Bobby Ryan then attempted to beat Rogers in the Galway goal with a powerful free kick but narrowly missed the target with Rogers rooted to the spot. Soon after the game was set in stone when Galway were reduced to ten men. Steve Feeney went in from behind with a rash challenge and Damien Hancock had no other choice but to award the second yellow card and send the Galway man to the dressing room.

With the numerical advantage it now seemed only a matter of time before the Saints would add to their one goal lead. North almost scored immediately when he cut in from the left wing to send a curling effort in the direction of the top corner of Fleming’s goal but the ball went agonizingly wide of the post. The visitors weren't to be denied however and Evan McMillan doubled the Saints lead on 72 minutes.

Stephen Bradley zipped in a beautiful corner kick and McMillan got with the faintest of touches to send the ball into the corner of the Galway net. It was now game set and match as the sending off of Feeney had left the Galway team without any genuine muscle in midfield.

Both sides made changes coming up to full time and the remainder of the contest was played out without much bite or gusto. Pats substitute could have added to the lead when he beat the offside trap to find himself one on one with Fleming, the Galway goalkeeper made himself big however and the Saints forward hit his effort wide and the game ended with two goals the difference for the Dublin side.

Pats move to within one point of Shamrock Rovers with this professional display and with Rovers coming up against the Bit O'Red on Friday there is a good possibility the Saints will hold top spot by the end of the week.

Galway United: Greg Fleming; Eduardo Dusi, Paul Sinnott, Gary Kelly, Evan Preston Kelly; Bobby Ryan (Sean Gavin, 76), Mikey Gilmore, Karl Moore, Gary Curran; Steve Feeney, Ronan Caldwell.
Subs Not Used: Conor Winn, Eric Holland, Darragh Duggan, David Cullen.
Bookings: Feeney (17), G Kelly (69).

Sent Off: Feeney (66).

St Patricks Athletic: Gary Rogers; Neil Harney (Ian Daly, 76), Evan McMillan, Jake Carroll, Brian Shortall; Anthony Murphy, Shane McFaul (Paul Crowley, 65), Derek Doyle, Stephen Bradley; Danny North (David McMillan, 78), Daryl Kavanagh.
Subs Not Used: Sean Stewart, Mark Logan, Matt Holland, Chris Bennion.
Bookings: E McMillan (59).

Referee: Damien Hancock.

Attendance: 614
Extratime Man Of The Match: Daniel North (St Patrick's Ath). He was a constant threat to the Galway rearguard.