Pat's earn bragging rights on derby day
Skerries Harps' Ciaran Keane holds onto possession under pressure from David Killeen (Fingalians).
DESPITE the concession of two relatively soft goals, St Patrick's managed to emerge victorious at the Naomh Mearnóg grounds at the weekend.
With Mark Whelan superb at wing back following his spell with St Vincents, Donabate's defence shone on the day in what proved a very close contest.
Nicky Collins had opened the scoring for the visiting side, only for Donabate to concede some soft frees which were duly converted by Mearnóg.
But after John Linders had recorded his team's second score, Alan McGrath availed of an overlap to beat the keeper with a low finish into the corner with ten minutes gone.
That made it 1-2 to 0-3, with Brian Kelly then putting a goal between the sides.
And with Thomas Murphy, Jesse Corcoran, Colin Dowling and Whelan motoring well at the back, Donabate extended their lead through Ciaran Stone.
However, an unfortunate fumble by Colin Murphy allowed Naomh Mearnóg in for an early goal before the break, with the half time score reading 1-4 to 1-3 for Pat's.
However, Pat's made a good start to the second half with Alan McGrath firing over two early points, only for Mearnóg to counter with back-toback points in what was their best spell of the game.
But despite some wayward shooting from Patrick's, they were then lifted by a terrific point by Linders when he somehow managed to squeeze the ball over from a tight angle.
Keogh followed up with another point to make it 1-9 from play, before Ciaran Stone landed a free for Adrian Henchy's team.
Naomh Mearnóg then got in for another soft goal, but with Brian Berrigan showing great leadership in midfield, Pat's managed to withstand a late rally from the home side with points from Stone (free), Keogh and McGrath handing them the spoils.
ST PARICK'S DONABATE: Colin Murphy; Colin Dowling, Thomas Murphy, Jeff O'Driscoll; Mark Whelan, Jesse Corcoran, Ciaran Stone 0-3 (0-2f); Brian Berrigan, Mickey Linders; John Linders 0-2, Alan McGrath 1-3, Brian Kelly 0-1; Nicolas Collins 01, Sean Keogh 0-3, Tom Meades. Subs: Mark Hender for Jesse Corcoran, Mick Linders for Dean Stiles.
