Sport

Clinical Kelly gives St Pat's the edge

St Patricks Ath 1 Bray Wanderers 0: HAVING SCORED the goal that clinched back-to-back league titles for Shamrock Rovers last…

Sat Mar 03 2012 - 00:00

St Patricks Ath 1 Bray Wanderers 0:HAVING SCORED the goal that clinched back-to-back league titles for Shamrock Rovers last season, Dean Kelly was unhappy to have to leave the club due to work commitments.

But the 26-year-old striker promptly endeared himself to the Inchicore faithful with his first goal of the campaign as St Pat’s started with a win as both sides finished a tame game with 10 men.

Bray went close from the first corner of the game on 12 minutes.

Adam Hanlon whipped a crisp delivery into the area and veteran striker Jason Byrne wasn’t far off target with a header to mark his return to his first senior club.

READ MORE

St Patrick’s looked surprisingly subdued but responded to score from their first corner of the game three minutes later. Kelly’s header from Seán O’Connor’s ball looked to have been hacked clear by Dean Zambra but assistant referee Emmet Dynan flagged that the ball had crossed the line.

O’Connor might have doubled the lead in the final minute of the first half. But having outmuscled Dave Webster to get through on goal from Brendan Clarke’s clearance, the winger fired wide.

Kelly’s work rate finally creating an opening to bring a dour second half to life after 76 minutes. Having won the free, Kelly volleyed over at the back post from James Chambers’ delivery.

Webster received his marching orders for a second yellow card for a foul on Kelly four minutes later.

St Pat’s finished strongly. Stephen O’Flynn headed over the top from Dean Kelly’s cross before Bray goalkeeper Darren Quigley made late saves to deny Jake Kelly and O’Flynn. Former Bray winger Jake Kelly was then shown a straight red card on 87 minutes following a clash with Dane Massey.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; O’Brien, Kenna, Browne, Bermingham; Russell, Chambers, Rossiter, Forrester (O‘Flynn, 75 mins), D Kelly (Meenan, 85 mins), O’Connor (J Kelly, 79 mins).

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, Massey, Sweeney, Houston (Kelty, 87 mins.); Hanlon, Zambra, D O’Connor, Waters; Byrne (Bolger, 84 mins.), Mulroy (G Kelly, 64 mins.).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork) .