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Mason Melia celebrates scoring his side's second goal with Brandon Kavanagh. Dan Clohessy/INPHO

Melia on target again as St Pat's defeat Waterford for third win on the bounce

St Pat’s are now two points behind fifth-placed Waterford.

St Patrick’s Athletic 3
Waterford 0

TEENAGER MASON MELIA scored for the third match running as St Patrick’s Athletic made it three league wins on the bounce for the first time this season.

Having hit their winner in Dundalk last time out, 16-year-old striker Melia added to Zach Elbouzedi’s opener in capping a dominant first half by Stephen Kenny’s side as they beat Blues for the first time in six games.

Aidan Keena scored a late third as St Pat’s, who, though they remain seventh, are now two points behind fifth-placed Waterford and five off third place with six games to play.

Brimming with confidence, St Pat’s started positively, coming within inches of the lead inside three minutes.

Anto Breslin found Chris Forrester down the inside left channel with a ball out of defence. The Saints talisman laid it into the path of Brandon Kavanagh whose first time shot came back off Sam Sargeant’s crossbar.

Minutes later, Sergeant, back between the Waterford post following an eight-week lay off with a wrist injury, turned Kavanagh’s deceptive delivery round a post.

Sergeant had to be at his best again on 24 minutes with the save of the first half as St Pat’s mainlined the pressure.

Kavanagh, central to much of St Pat’s attacking threat, spun Rowan McDonald to let fly with a shot that was destined for the top corner before Sargeant pushed it round a post.

It was the half hour before Blues threatened, skipper Barry Baggley forcing Joseph Anang to touch his arced delivery out for Waterford’s first corner of the night.

Sprung to life, Blues worked Anang again four minutes later.

Baggley and Padraig Amond set-up wingback Ryan Burke whose drive was batted away by the keeper.

Just when Waterford thought they had got a foothold in the game, they were suckerpunched on the counterattack as St Pat’s took a 36th minute lead.

Kavanagh was again instrumental, finding the run of Elbouzedi who skipped beyond Burke to outfox Sergeant and shoot home at the near post for his first league goal for Saints.

With the game having opened right up, Waterford might have been level within a minute, Anang getting down well to Amond’s snapshot.

St Pat’s went straight down the other end to punish poor defending to double the lead on 38 minutes.

In trying to flick the ball clear, Baggley merely succeeded in touching Jake Mulraney’s pass into the path of Melia who didn’t break his stride as he blasted to the roof of the net.

Chasing the game, Waterford were first to threaten on the resumption, Burke drilling wide from Amond’s skilful lay off.

Though Keith Long’s side continued to enjoy plenty of the ball, St Pat’s kept their shape well with Anang a solid presence behind a defence well marshalled by skipper Joe Redmond and Tom Grivosti.

Two substitutes then combined to add St Pat’s third goal on 78 minutes.

Kian Leavy surged forward to feed the ball to Keena.

And though the striker’s drive came down off the underside of the crossbar and bounced out, assistant referee Darren Carey flagged that it had crossed the line.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin; Lennon, Forrester; Elbouzedi (Leavy, 63), B. Kavanagh (McClelland, 84), Mulraney (Turner, 63); Melia (Keena, 75).

Waterford: Sargeant; Horton (Flynn, 82), Leahy, Radkowski; Power, McDonald, Baggley (McCormack, 82), McMenamy (Glenfield, 82), Burke; Amond, Bellis (Arubi, 87).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).

Attendance: 4,237.

First Division Results 

  • Cork City 2-2 Finn Harps
  • Bray 2-0 Kerry
  • UCD 2-0 Cobh Ramblers 
  • Treaty United 1-2 Athlone Town 
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    Mute Gareth Ward
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    Sep 13th 2020, 10:15 PM

    That’s some half backline UCC have, intercounty standard! Maybe a bit light in the forwards with conway being the only standout name. But hopefully they will get a few more big names back from defeated clubs after this weekend.

    Hope UCC win the cork championship, to highlight how crazy it is that they can compete.

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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Sep 13th 2020, 10:17 PM

    @Gareth Ward: not a bad sub tipp senior mark kehoe

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Sep 14th 2020, 12:20 AM

    @Gareth Ward: “but hopefully they will get a few big names back”. Is that because they were playing with their clubs and not available tonight? Can you see how stupid your comment is when you look at it like that! UCC bring nothing to the Cork SHC. Amend the rules now so that students at the start of the season have to declare for their club or college. But can’t play with both. Let’s see how many Paddy Cadells /Paddy O’Loughlins they have then.

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    Mute Gareth Ward
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    Sep 14th 2020, 9:22 AM

    @Johnny B: Read my comment again and you’ll understand son. That is exactly what i mean. As i said i do hope they win it to highlight how crazy it is that they can take part.
    I don’t particularly care what they add to the cork championship, which is why i want them to win!

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Sep 14th 2020, 9:47 AM

    @Gareth Ward: apologies. Twas late when I read your comment (and was after a few pints). Didn’t read it properly. Apologies again.

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    Mute Gareth Ward
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    Sep 14th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Johnny B: Apparently they can get back montgomery from from waterford. And bill sheehan from dicksboro can play as well when he’s available. Assuming mark kehoe will start in the next game, they’ll have quiet a strong forward unit built up then!

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