Mason Melia strikes as St Patrick's Athletic down Waterford after European return

The Irish Sun

21 hours ago

Mason Melia ended his six-game league goal drought with a clinical first-half finish as St Patrick's Athletic returned from European action to see off Waterford 2-0 at the RSC
SPURRED ON Mason Melia strikes as St Patrick's Athletic down Waterford after European return
MASON MELIA'S first-half opener paved the way towards St Pat's claiming a deserved away victory over Waterford at the RSC.
And it was a vital result for Stephen Kenny's side, who had failed to win a league game since May 30, as they moved into sixth.
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Mason Melia of St Patrick's Athletic shoots to score his side's first goal during against Waterford
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It also keeps the Saints rolling ahead of their Conference League tie with Besiktas on Thursday after seeing off Estonians Kalju last week.
Tottenham-bound Melia got the Saints up and running in the south-east after making a superb run to score in the 18th minute.
And after Pat's missed a host of chances to extend their lead, sub Conor Carty sealed it six minutes from time.
Waterford were indecisive early on and were lucky to not fall behind.
But Melia was unable to convert from a Kian Leavy delivery inside five minutes.
Conan Noonan went close for the Blues at the other end but he could not get a touch on Finlay Armstrong's cross.
Noonan and Tommy Lonegan then linked up inside the penalty area with the latter getting on the ball on the left.
But his shot was blocked away for a corner.
The Inchicore side broke the deadlock with 18 minutes on the clock.
Former Reading youth Leavy picked up the ball in the middle of the park before releasing Melia.
And the striker was kept onside by Ryan Burke before he fired past helpless Blues keeper Stephen McMullan.
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Former Saint Lonergan had a penalty appeal rejected on 29 minutes when he went down under a challenge from Anto Breslin.
Referee Daniel Murphy waved away the appeals.
Melia could have doubled the Saints' lead six minutes before the break only to fire wide.
Striker Lonergan then saw a looping header clear Joseph Anang's crossbar moments before the interval.
The visitors started the second half on the front foot with a big chance coming their way just shy of the hour mark.
Leavy and Brandon Kavanagh linked up in the midfield, with the latter playing Melia in between the Waterford defence.
But his effort that was arrowed for the near post was turned away by McMullan before Burke blocked an effort from captain Joe Redmond past the hour.
Winger Jake Mulraney, latched on to a superb through ball from Kavanagh on 70 minutes.
But his angled effort was turned around the post by McMullan as John Coleman's troops struggled.
Tempers then flared with ref Murphy dishing out six yellow cards between players and management following a tackle from Josh Miles on Kavanagh.
The Dublin official finished the game with a card count of 11.
But the Saints were in no mood to let it affect them.
And they sealed the deal when Carty peeled off his marker to get on the end of Kavanagh's teasing corner.
He then beat keeper McMullan with a delightful left-footed finish.
Waterford FC 0 - 2 St. Patrick's Athletic
SUN STAR MAN
Jamie Lennon (St Pat's)
WATERFORD: McMullan 7; Horton 6 (Miles 59, 4), Boyle 6 (Coyle 84, 3), Leahy 6, Burke 5; Armstrong 6 (Dempsey 59, 5); Rossiter 7 (Glenfield 82, 3), McDonald 5 (Olayinka 59, 5); Lonergan 6, Amond 6, Noonan 6.
ST PAT'S: Anang 7; Sjoberg 7, Redmond 7, Grivosti 7, Breslin 5 (Kazeem 38, 6); Lennon 9, Leavy 8, Kavanagh 8 (Robinson 90, 3), Forrester 8 (Baggley 90, 3), Mulraney 7 (Carthy 75, 6); Melia 8 (Power 75, 5).
REFEREE: D Murphy (Dublin) 5.