St Patrick's show battling qualities

A CURIOUS thing happened at Richmond Park yesterday. For 45 minutes even the vocal elements in a sizeable Sunday crowd of 4,000 could only trade insults so anaemic was the football. But, naturally, the dross didn't last, and a typical hell for leather second period more than atoned for what went before.

Unfortunately it took the harsh double sending off of home striker Ricky O'Flaherty and Rovers John Toal to provide the catalyst, but thereafter it was another Richmond thriller. Twice a rejuvenated Rovers took the lead, the second time with a contender for team goal of the season, but a one goal buffer is rarely enough against St Patrick's when they attack the shed end and Kop like, it sucks the ball into the net.

But, while St Patrick's don't know how to lose in Inchicore alas they've almost forgotten how to win as well. So, despite extending a run of just two defeats in 44 league games at home, dating back two and a half years, a ninth home draw in 12 undermined their title defence, or perhaps more feasibly a remote tilt at the UEFA Cup.

Meanwhile Rovers, despite again providing rich entertainment in another Dublin derby, were dragged two points closer to Dundalk and the relegation playoff. That is faintly ridiculous for a team with seven wins and nine defeats, a reflection more on a flawed system than their own inconsistency.

But they've found a rich vein of form now, none more so than Tony Cousins. A well taken brace here took his tally to five in two games, and 10 for the campaign. Pat Byrne's willingness to stick with a settled team despite inconsistent performances is being rewarded.

Defensively, Rovers still don't convince entirely, especially when the pressure heats up. But they stick to their footballing principles, played some composed passing football from the back and until worn down near the end, went fir the win. That hoary old footballing cliche truly applies in this instance they're too good to go down.

A depleted St Patrick's dug deep in time honoured fashion and were rewarded when Pat Dolan gambled on a 3-3-3 formation for the last 18 minutes, thereby maintaining his unbeaten and impressive start to National League management.

But even allowing for some vintage touches and visionary passing from a hard working Eddie Gormley, it took them a while to get into their stride. There was a mite too much aerial stuff in the first period before gradually Jason Byrne's mobility and ability to hold the ball up was transferred into three preinterval efforts which tested Robbie Horgan. At the other end, Brian McKenna had to be alert in pawing away a typical arcing free from the left touchline by Marc Kenny which was curling inside the far post.

Despite trojan groundwork, the normally excellent Richmond Park surface has taken a mid winter buffeting, especially in last Tuesday's meaningless and intrusive Leinster Senior Cup meeting between the two. A difficult, bobbling surface added to the 50-50 midfield challenges, inducing a tetchiness which came dramatically to the surface four minutes into the second period.

O'Flaherty had probably been penalised for dangerous play when attempting to hook the ball forward in a four man scuffle, whereupon Toal seemed to stand on him. O'Flaherty took exception, half punching, half pushing Toal in the chest before they went chin to chin. It was innocuous enough, but conroversy tends to accompany Dick O Hanlon games and after eventually consulting his assistant Jimmy O'Neill, the referee brandished red cards to both protagonists.

Suddenly space opened up in midfield as both sides went 4-3-2. Rovers, especially Pat Fenlon, exploited it better at first. After 54 minutes Fenlon played a good through ball for Cousins, who planted a firm drive past the advancing McKenna - subsequently admonished by Mick Moody for not advancing sooner. Cue the first St Patrick's comeback.

After 62 minutes they carved a patient equaliser, Jason Byrne taking Packie Lynch's pass and ignoring the overlap return to find Martin Reilly inside the area - he in turn picked out the unmarked Paul Campbell for an unerring 18 yard finish. The shed rocked to chants of "Soupy" as the flares went up.

Would Rovers have the stomach to go again? Oh ye of little faith - this doubter included. What followed within three minutes was a gem. From a move inside their own half, Derek Tracey skipped out of a tackle and found Cousins up the left. He laid off to Kenny whose pinpoint crossfield ball was touched inside by Chris Malone for Fenlon to deftly pick out Cousins for a firm header past McKenna.

Back came St Patrick's again, pressing Rovers into their own half, testing them at set pieces and pushing forward in numbers. They flirted with defeat, Francis twice finishing weakly on the break before Robbie Horgan literally made a good fist of Campbell's long 82nd minute free only to see Gormley place a leaping return header above Tracey and under the bar.

There remained a strong hint of a winner at either end, Paul Whelan stemming the St Patrick's tide and Reilly misconnecting a bicycle kick either side of a meaty Fenlon drive and a misplaced pass by Kenny when St Patrick's were outnumbered. But nobody was quibbling with the outcome.