St Patrick’s Athletic 3 Bohemians 0
(Owolabi 5, 45, 68)
Tunde Owolabi struck a superb hat-trick at Richmond Park last night to propel St Patrick’s Athletic to a convincing Dublin derby win over Bohemians in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
One of three players drafted into the Pat’s starting line-up following their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Shelbourne in the same venue on Friday, Owolabi broke the deadlock with just under five minutes on the clock.
Capitalising on a defensive mishap by former Saints star Ciaran Kelly, the Belgian attacker raced through on goal and drove a powerful shot to the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
The visitors responded to this setback by creating a succession of chances, including an Ali Coote effort that rebounded off the crossbar. Pat’s custodian Joseph Anang – currently on loan from West Ham United – also produced a number of fine saves as the Gypsies looked to force their way back into contention.
However, Pat’s held firm as the action progressed and ultimately brought a 2-0 lead into the interval after Owolabi fired home his second goal from a left-hand angle in stoppage-time.
The former Finn Harps man had the match ball in his sights on the resumption and while Tyreke Wilson blocked his path to goal on 54 minutes, his third of the evening arrived just inside the final-quarter.
After Eoin Doyle was fouled inside the box from a Sam Curtis delivery, Owolabi stepped up to the penalty spot and comfortably slotted beyond the reach of James Talbot to place the outcome well beyond doubt.
While Pat’s remain in fourth ahead of their trip to Dundalk on Friday, Bohs have slipped down to seventh after suffering their fifth defeat of 2022 and will be seeking to get their campaign back on track at home to Drogheda United on the same day.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; Redmond, Grivosti, Bermingham; Curtis, Forrester (M Doyle, 72 mins), O’Reilly, Breslin; McClelland (Burns, 83 mins); E Doyle (McCormack, 77 mins), Owolabi (Robinson, 72 mins).
Bohemians: Talbot; Murphy, Doherty, Kelly, Wilson; Devoy, Levingston (Mullins, 63 mins); Coote (Burt, 46 mins), Flores (McManus, 81 mins), Omochere (Cassidy, 81 mins); Ogedi-Uzokwe.
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).