St Patrick's Athletic (4) - Wexford Youths (0)

St Patrick's Athletic 4 - Wexford Youths 0

A brace of goals from Conan Byrne helped St Patrick's Athletic regain some winning home form as they inflicted a telling 4-0 defeat on Wexford Youths, who finished with ten men at Richmond Park.

Early goals from Mark Timlin and Christy Fagan had St Patrick's in command as they went on to record their biggest victory of the season to move up to third place in the Premier Division table.

Liam Buckley made two changes to St Patrick's starting side from their win at Finn Harps on Monday with Lee Desmond coming into central defence in place of the injured Darren Dennehy.

Graham Kelly was restored to central midfield as Shane McEleney dropped to the bench.

Youths made just one switch win their starting eleven from last week as Andy Mulligan started on their left flank in place of Aidan Friel.

In contrast to recent home games when their bright start brought St Pat's no early reward, Friday night yielded two goals inside the opening 10 minutes.

The Inchicore men were ahead on six minutes from their first incisive attack of the game. The marking was negligent as Timlin rose at the back post to head home Byrne's floated cross from the right.

In a dynamic opening to the game, Youths were unfortunate not to be level on nine minutes.

Paul Murphy released fellow striker Danny Furlong on the right and his shot came back off the inside of Brendan Clarke's right-hand post.

A minute later, further dubious defending cost Wexford a second goal. Timlin worked a trick on the left to cross for Christy Fagan, again unattended in the area.

And the player of the month for March was given far to much time and space to cleverly control the ball before volleying to the net for his sixth goal of the season.

Wexford remained at sixes-and-sevens defensively as a mistake by Ryan Delaney presented Byrne with an opening which saw the winger arc a shot over the top.

Wexford defender Gary Delaney relieved the pressure when heading off target from Eric Molloy's diagonal ball minutes later.

But the pressure on the visitors' goal soon resumed. Fagan had a shot bravely blocked by Stephen Last before St Patrick's extended their lead on 32 minutes.

Billy Dennehy's shot deflected off a defender to fall invitingly for Byrne who found the near top corner of Graham Doyle's net with a stunning right-foot volley.

Byrne scored his second of the night on 57 minutes when finishing off the move of the match. Fagan sent and Dennehy away on the left to cross low to the far post where Byrne arrived to sweep the ball past Doyle.

Bizarrely, before Youths could restart, striker Furlong ran straight off the field and down to the dressing rooms having been sent off, apparently for dissent.

©rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 4 - Wexford Youths 0

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