St Patrick's Athletic 1 Galway United 2:SEÁN KELLY'S stunning goal gave Galway a hat-trick of wins over St Patrick's Athletic as they turned this game on its head in two second-half minutes.
Trailing to Ryan Guy’s first-half lead, a controversial refereeing decision by Neil Doyle let Galway back into the game on 56 minutes.
John Russell’s attempt to flick the ball over Jason Gavin appeared to strike the St Patrick’s defender on the left side of his chest, but Doyle pointed to the spot. Jay O’Shea, who hadn’t impressed a posse of cross-channel scouts up to then, sent Gary Rogers the wrong way with the penalty.
But there was no doubt about United’s winner two minutes later. The ball ran away from O’Shea for Kelly who, just back in the side after a long injury lay off, let fly from 30 yards and found the far top corner with a wonderful strike.
St Pat’s had deservedly gone a goal to the good just before the half-time break. Stuart Byrne’s free-kick found Bobby Ryan who put Stephen Maher away down the right to cross and Guy’s header went in off the underside of the bar.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Maher, Gavin, Partridge, Stevens; B Ryan (Cawley, 81 mins), O’Connor, Byrne, D Ryan (Haverty, 44 mins; Haran, 88 mins); Guy, Harris.
GALWAY UNITED: Ryan; Conneely, Guthrie, Breen, Davoren; Cooke, Russell, Kelly (McBrien, 70 mins), McGrath (O‘Toole, 73 mins); O’Shea, Faherty.
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).
