A sensational 70th-minute strike by Sean O’Connor was the deciding factor in this enthralling Dublin derby at Dalymount Park last night as St Pat’s kept their slim title hopes alive.

Converted centre-forward Evan McMillan had forced a fine save from Barry Murphy eight minutes into the action, before O’Connor tested Gypsies netminder Greg Murray for the first time with a stinging shot from distance three minutes later.

The deadlock was broken after 25 minutes when Kevin Devaney crossed for the onrushing McMillan to finish clinically past Murphy from close range.

Devaney hit the post less than a minute later with Murphy off his line and Pat’s benefited strongly from this let-off, with James Chambers applying the finishing touch to an enticing O’Connor set-piece from the right flank seven minutes before the interval.

electrifying

It had been a lively opening period from both sides, but that was tame compared to the electrifying action after the restart, as Pat’s moved into the lead on 48 minutes.

O’Connor was the supplier once more for Christopher Forrester to finish low past Murray, but this strike was cancelled out just three minutes later when Kevin Feely headed home Danny Joyce’s corner.

There was hardly enough time to pause for breath in an extremely open and highly competitive encounter.

In a game as delicately poised as this, it often takes one moment of magic to separate the two sides, and the outstanding O’Connor produced it with 20 minutes to go by volleying home brilliantly from 25 yards off the underside of the post.

BOHEMIANS — Murray; Mulcahy, Feely, Lopes; Barker, Pender (Carr 84), Joyce (Wilson 58), Buckley, Byrne (Ward 80); McMillan, Devaney.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC — Murphy; O’Brien, Browne, Kenna, Bermingham (Bolger 24); Chambers; O’Connor, Forrester, Carroll, Kelly (Macedo 68); Faherty (Fagan 66).

REF — G Kelly (Cork).

Irish Independent