REPORT: St. Patrick's Athletic 2-1 Limerick

St. Patrick’s Athletic won for the first time in eight league matches when a Conan Byrne brace within three second half minutes turned the match on its head as Pat’s beat Limerick 2-1 in a riveting encounter at Richmond Park.

First, man of the Match Byrne converted a 77th minute penalty after he had himself been fouled and then he leapt like a gazelle in the box to power home a right wing cross in the 80th minute. Hardworking Limerick had led from early in the opening half.

A superb run by Karl O’Sullivan won a 15th minute corner down the Limerick right. Darren Murphy directed the flag kick low towards Barry Maguire in what was obviously a training ground move.

Maguire swung a foot and the ball flew high and over. But in the act of doing this, he was upended by Killian Brennan and referee Sean Grant pointed to the spot. After a spate of Pat’s protests, Billy Dennehy coolly dispatched the penalty to the net as erstwhile colleague Brendan Clarke dived the wrong way.

A half time lead of 1-0 was no more than Limerick deserved as Maguire had earlier spurned two chances after splendid work by both William Fitzgerald and Connor Ellis. Fitzgerald himself might have scored in the 38th minute when his half volley from a Killian Cantwell cross flashed just wide.

Pat’s were restricted to an Ian Bermingham header from a Killian Brennan free kick that just cleared the far post and a long range Conor Clifford effort that screamed over the top on the stroke of half time.

Pat’s improved following a double half time substitition which saw the introduction of Conan Byrne and Jamie Lennon to the home engine room. Pat’s dominated second half possession. They could and probably should have scored through Lee Desmond and Dean Clarke before that Conan Byrne tour de force.

But Limerick still threatened on the break and were agonizingly close to levelling matters when Killian Cantwell hit the bar in the 90th minute.