Saints lose ground in Premier Division title race
By Daire Walsh
St Patrick’s Athletic fell to third place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table following their 3-2 reversal to Dublin rivals Bohemians at Dalymount Park last night.
Despite finding the net twice in the second half - an own goal and a last-minute strike from former Republic of Ireland U19 international Jason McClelland - Georgie Kelly, Tyreke Wilson and Liam Burt finishes ensured it was the Gypsies who came away with the spoils.
Matty Smith in action for Pats at Dalymount Park
Kelly spent much of 2020 on loan at Pat’s and the league’s ace marksman returned to haunt his former club.
Due to having a superior number of goals, Stephen O’Donnell’s Saints began this round of fixtures ahead of Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers at the summit of the top-flight.
Combined with the Hoops’ 3-1 win against Dundalk, this result sees Pat’s losing ground in the race for league supremacy – albeit there is likely to be more twists and turns.
Matty Smith and Kelly had opportunities at either end, before the latter finally broke the deadlock on 43 minutes.
At the end of a scrappy passage of play, Kelly lashed a close-range shot beyond the reach of Saints custodian Vítězslav Jaroš.
This gave Keith Long’s side the upper hand against their Metropolitan rivals, but Pat’s were back on level terms eight minutes after the restart.
Robbie Benson released Darragh Burns with a precise pass and his resulting effort shook the post before going in off a Bohs defender.
While the visitors were hoping to push on from this point, they suffered a double blow just inside the final-quarter.
Lee Desmond was dismissed on a second yellow card in the 72nd-minute and Pat’s were duly punished when Wilson fired home off a free-kick.
Burt rounded off a counter attack with nine minutes remaining to make it 3-1 and the Saints were then reduced to nine men when captain Ian Bermingham picked up his second yellow.
McClelland offered his side some hope in stoppage-time, but Pat’s will now look to bounce back at home to Derry City next Friday.
