UCD were well beaten by St. Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park on Monday night, 5-0 the final score
St Patrick's Athletic moved a step closer towards European footballfor 2013, as hat-trick hero Vinny Faherty was the catalyst for them in a comprehensive victory over south Dublin rivals UCD, which also ensures that they will maintain their title challenge for another week at least.
The Saints were short six of their normal starting line-up, including attacking duo Sean O'Connor and Christy Fagan, through either injury or suspension, and their fringe players certainly took a while
settling into the contest, as Michael Leahy went close for UCD early on.
Pat's would eventually settle into their groove, though, and Jake Kelly was on hand to open the scoring on 16 minutes, finishing coolly into the bottom left-hand corner of Ger Barron's goal from a tight angle on the right following excellent approach play by Ger O'Brien.
Anthony Flood would find the former Bray man in an identical position just two minutes, but the inside of the post came to the Students' rescue on this occasion. Christopher Forrester would then go close with an audacious lob from distance that was held firmly by Barron, and although Pat's would control the play for the remainder of the half, David McMillan did go close on a couple of occasions for the visitors.
Pat's were able to raise the stakes upon the resumption, though, and they doubled their advantage 13 minutes after the re-start when Flood held the ball up expertly for the onrushing Faherty, who finished past the helpless Barron with much aplomb.
This goal effectively killed off the game as a contest, and further goals would arrive through Faherty and Flood in the 66th and 72nd minutes respectively, the former coming after a delightful chip by
Forrester had come crashing off the woodwork.
The Saints' work would not finish there, though, and Faherty ensured that he would come away with the match ball, when his clinical finish with five minutes remaining completed the rout for the Inchicore men.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC - Murphy; O'Brien, Browne, Price, Bermingham; Forrester, Coombes (Boyne 81), Carroll; Faherty, Flood (O'Flynn 81), J Kelly (D Kelly 73).
UCD - Barron; Douglas (Lyons 61), Leahy, O'Connor, Nangle; Clarke (Mulhall 61), O'Conor, McCabe (Kavanagh 61), Ledwith; Benson; McMillan.
REF - T Connolly (Dublin)
Report thanks to Daire Walsh, Irish Independent
