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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Bohemians 1-3 St Pat's: Saints put three past Gypsies in Dalymount

The Saints' winning rebound from the heartbreak of their European exit continued at Dalymount Park.

And the visiting faithful didn't mind that it took until the 89th minute to put this Dublin derby to bed, Adam O'Reilly gleefully firing home to end Bohs' spirited second half resistance.

Since the European Conference League loss to Sofia in Tallaght, the Saints have won three League games on the trot and are within touching distance of the top three.

By contrast, the Gypsies had needed to produce something after they were loudly booed off at the break with a 2-0 reversal to try to reel in with the home side now going four games without a win in the league.

Keith Long's side got halfway there through Rory Feely's 62nd minute header - but O'Reilly's goal on the counter killed off their hopes of a late comeback.

Referee Paul McLaughlin played advantage after Serge Atakayi was fouled in his own half, but not until after the striker got the ball upfield.

Tunde Owolabi couldn't finish but the loose ball fell to O'Reilly, who stabbed home, leaving Bohs without a win in their last four League games.

Bohs had started in confident mood, with Kris Twardek picking out Liam Burt with a pinpoint cross, but the midfielder couldn't find the target.

It was a good opportunity spurned and the hosts were given a warning shot across the bow soon after when the lively Atakayi twice tried to slip colleagues in, with Chris Forrester and Eoin Doyle close to having sights on goal.

The warning wasn't heeded, and Pat's took the lead after eight minutes.

O'Reilly found Barry Cotter around half way on the right flank and his one-two with Forrester took Feely out of the equation - and Cotter with open ground to run into.

Bohs skipper Ciarán Kelly backed off and Cotter cut inside Josh Kerr to shoot, his effort deflecting off Twardek and beating Jon McCracken.

Pat's briefly looked like running riot, their fluid interplay in the final third causing the Gypsies rearguard real concern.

Their rivals, however, dragged themselves back into the contest.

Saints captain Joe Redmond had to act lively to deny Ethon Varian a gilt-edged chance.

And, in the 25th minute, John O'Sullivan got away from O'Reilly and fed Varian, who was about to pull the trigger when Sam Curtis intervened.

The rally was short-lived. At the other end, Atakayi pulled a good chance wide, but in injury time at the end of the first half Kerr gave possession away and Atakayi unselfishly teed up Forrester, who found the bottom corner.

Long had to find a way of changing things up and Jordan Doherty replaced Kerr as the game resumed.

But the Saints remained comfortable with their advantage, and the Gypsies boss went to his bench again before the hour mark.

This time it had the desired effect. Ali Coote and James Clarke came on and, soon after, a powerful Burt shot earned a corner.

Coote took it and picked out Feely, and the tall centre-back planted a header past Danny Rogers.

A mini-storm followed that the visitors weathered and, with 12 minutes of regulation time remaining, McCracken in the Bohs goal used his feet to prevent Atakayi restoring the two goal cushion.

But the striker who had scored a memorable debut goal in Sofia a few weeks earlier turned provider just as the 90th minute approached, and O'Reilly made sure of the victory that Tim Clancy's side deserved.

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