St Patrick's Athletic 3 - Bohemians 0With Republic of Ireland head coach Hemir Hallgrimsson in attendance, St Patrick's Athletic bounced back from last week's defeat to Shamrock Rovers with a 3-0 win over Bohemians at Inchicore. It's Bohemians fourth loss in only six games and the result is bound to heap more pressure on Gypsies manager Alan Reynolds as goals from Chris Forrester and two late efforts from Mason Melia and Jason McClelland gave the home side all three points. Pat's manager Stephen Kenny made one change from the side that started in the 1-0 defeat to the Hoops last week as Mason Melia, in the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad for upcoming friendlies against Scotland and Norway, was dropped to the bench, replaced by Brandon Kavanagh. For Bohemians, Connor Parsons came in for Dayle Rooney from the win in Waterford. The visitors, who hadn't won at Richmond Park since October 2022, started positively with home keeper Joseph Anang saving shots from Dawson Devoy, Colm Whelan and pushing over a deflected Adam McDonnell effort that was dipping under the crossbar. Despite their early pressure, Bohs conceded in the 17th minute as Kavanagh's floated free-kick was met by the fists of keeper James Talbot, who came through a ruck of players. However, there wasn't enough purchase on the clearance as it fell to Chris Forrester, who opened the scoring with a low, first-time shot from inside the area. Bohs pressed for an equaliser before the break, but were nearly undone again in the 33rd minute as a diving Aidan Keena just failed to get on the end of a delicious cross from the left from Zak Elbouzedi. It remained 1-0 at the break and just nine minutes after the restart Kenny brought on Melia for Keena and the sub missed a great opportunity with this first touch as his weak header from six yards out from a Kavanagh cross failed to beat Talbot in the away goal. At the other end, Whelan, who scored a hat-trick in the win over Waterford, missed a glorious chance to equalise on the hour mark, but hit his shot from inside the Pat's area was straight at Anang. Bohs kept pushing for an equaliser against a nervy looking St Pat's defence, bringing on Frenchman Lys Mousset with 20 minutes to partner Whelan in a two-pronged attack. Sean Grehan stung the fingers of Anang 12 minutes from time as the home keeper got his near-post angles right. However, Pats scored their second and insurance goal as Melia turned in a McClelland cross in the 84th minute and McClelland then made it 3-0 on the stroke of 90 minutes from an Anto Breslin ball, with a crisp, low, left-footed shot which James Talbot was powerless to stop. © rte.ie
