King and Smith on target as Pat’s move to the top of the Premier Division
By Daire Walsh
Courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over Finn Harps in Ballybofey this evening, St Patrick’s Athletic have moved to the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
While it may only be temporary with defending champions Shamrock Rovers in action against Bohemians later tonight, the Saints continue to make steady progress in this season’s top-flight.
St Patrick’s Athletic head coach Stephen O’Donnell
Thanks to goals in each half from Billy King and Matty Smith, they extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
After ringing the changes for Tuesday’s 1-0 home win over Waterford, Saints boss Stephen O’Donnell did likewise for his side’s trip to Donegal.
John Mountney, Sam Bone, Jamie Lennon and Matty Smith were all drafted into the starting line-up.
O’Donnell is using squad rotation in a bid to handle a busy schedule, but it took a little while for Pat’s to settle into this contest.
Bone was marginally off-target with a sixth-minute header, before Karl O’Sullivan also went close at the opposite end.
Mountney dragged an effort wide off a Pat’s counter on 24 minutes and this was swiftly followed by a breakthrough on the half-hour mark.
King’s balance and footwork saw him evading a couple of Harps challenges and with space opening up in front him, he fired to the net with clinical precision.
Although the hosts posed a set-piece threat, Pat’s held firm in defence to bring a 1-0 cushion into the break.
Whereas a second goal eluded them at Richmond Park three days ago, the Saints managed to double their advantage in the 61st-minute on this occasion.
Following a neat pass from King, Ronan Coughlan was picked out inside the Harps box.
From the byline, he delivered a tantalising cross that was superbly headed to the net by Scottish native Smith.
This offered Pat’s considerable breathing pace inside the closing half-hour of the play. Alfie Lewis, Ben McCormack and Shane Griffin were all introduced off the bench to offer fresh impetus as the visitors eased over the line for another three points.
