Report: Galway United 1-4 St Patrick's Athletic

A Killian Brennan penalty, along with a brace from winger Conan Byrne and an opportunistic finish from Ciaran Kilduff helped St Patrick’s Athletic to a deserved win at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Stephen Walsh was punished for handling the ball by referee Jim McKell and Killian Brennan slotted the resultant penalty home to send St Patrick’s Athletic into the lead.

The Saints grabbed a second goal just before half time when Chris Forrester split the home sides’ defence with a clever through ball and Conan Byrne found the bottom corner of the net with a clinical finish.

United came out defiantly in the second half and deservedly pulled a goal back when David O’Leary rifled in a long-range effort that took a slight deflection on its way to goal and wrong footed Saints goalkeeper Conor O’Malley.

Pat’s opened up a two goal advantage again however when Ciaran Kilduff got to a ball over the top before United keeper’ Ger Hanley and Kilduff clipped the ball over Hanley and he had the simple task of rolling the ball into the net. Chris Forrester was again the architect.

Conan Byrne grabbed his second in the 78th minute after Forrester set him up at the edge of the box and he placed the ball, left footed, into the far corner past Ger Hanley.

A miserable night for United at Eamonn Deacy Park ended with Alex Byrne being given his marching orders for a mistimed tackle on St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder James Chambers.

REFEREE: Jim McKell

GALWAY UNITED: Hanley; Horgan, Oji, Byrne, Walsh; Shanahan, Sinnott © (O’Laoi 46), Connolly, O’Leary (Cunningham 71), Keegan; Curran.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: O’Malley; O’Brien (Chambers 35), Desmond, Browne, Bermingham; Byrne, Brennan, Forrester (Langley 81), Bolger (McCormack 75), Greene, Kilduff.

OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE: 1,355.