St Patrick's second-half surge

May 22 2009 by Andy Galloway, Lennox Herald (main ed)

Saints second-half surge

ST PAT’S clinched the title last Wednesday night in a convincing, but tense, local derby victory over Denny Amateurs at Tontine Park.

Early on, John Deeley’s free kick rattled the crossbar, while Saints keeper Kevin Connor was a virtual spectator due to the superb work of his defence.

Late in the first half Denny keeper McMurdo palmed a swerving D’annunzio cross on to the bar and saved the rebound from Sean Marner at point-blank range.

Denny had their best chance of the game early in the second half from a corner, but the referee awarded a foul on Connor.

Then, on the hour, St Pat’s found their shooting boots after making a few changes which had an immediate effect.

Neat passing between MacLeod and Montague ended with Adam Monaghan finding the target with a low angled drive.

Within a couple of minutes, the lead was extended when MacLeod dribbled past his marker before turning inside to bend the ball past the keeper.

Despite the home side’s best efforts, number three came on 73 minutes when Monaghan set up Dom Ruane to finish.

But that was just a prelude to a super fourth goal that started when Montague, operating on the halfway line, took control of a clearance from Connor.

He then involved Monaghan, who found Martin Currie with space to spare on the opposite flank. He fully exploited confusion in the opposition ranks with an inch-perfect cross back into the area where MacLeod was waiting to hammer home from 12 yards.

The game had still 15 minutes to go but the final goal started celebrations that continued well into the night.

St Pat’s: K Connor; J Graham, J Deeley, B Deeley, M King, K Smith, A Monaghan, D Ruane, S Marner, D D’annunzio, D MacKinnon, M MacLeod, K Montague, M Currie.