Adam O’Reilly’s goal three minutes into stoppage time earned St Patrick’s Athletic a whopping three points in the run for Europe against Dundalk at Casey’s Field.
The game appeared to be heading for a draw until the loanee Preston North End midfielder pounced with virtually the last kick of the game to help Tim Clancy’s side close the gap to their opponents in third by just one point with four games remaining.
Although fourth place may be enough for Europe if Derry City wins the FAI Cup, none of these teams will want to rely on this lottery.
A first home defeat of his reign was a blow to Stephen O’Donnell, who was the better side throughout.
Chris Forrester had given them a 20-minute lead against the run of play, but that was rightly called off by local youngster Ryan O’Kane in first-half stoppage time.
O’Kane looked like he was back at the end, but a brilliant challenge from Sam Curtis prompted a break that allowed O’Reilly to fire the ball around four yards, sparking a pitch invasion from support outside.
With Dundalk remaining third, form is with Pat in what should be a real race to qualify for next season’s Europa Conference League playoffs.
It was the home side who started top with Steven Bradley firing wide after 68 seconds after Adam O’Reilly was caught in possession.
O’Kane then threatened for the first time in the 10th minute by turning Sam Curtis upside down from the box before firing just above.
John Martin then deflected an effort just wide with Danny Rogers caught on the wrong foot two minutes later before Pat’s took the lead with their first attempt at 20 minutes.
Sam Bone, a Cup winner with the Inchicore side last season, was guilty of unnecessarily giving the ball to the back after he panicked after a bad touch and the visitors punished the mistake with Anto Breslin kicking off Forrester for a shot that flashed up. the left corner.
Greg Sloggett, playing his 100th game for Dundalk, nearly equalized eight minutes later when he was dragged into the box from a short corner by Bradley, but his effort was parried by Rogers before being snagged on safety by Eoin Doyle.
Dundalk was denied penalty appeals in the 41st minute when Bradley fell in the box after a draw with Breslin, but referee Damien MacGraith was not interested.
Louth’s men would equalize in the first minute of stoppage time when O’Kane cut from the left on his right foot to shoot low at Rogers to the bottom right corner – becoming the first homegrown man to score a league goal for the club since Tiarnan Mulvenna in July 2013.
Joe Adams then nearly put Dundalk ahead seven minutes after the restart with a curling effort from just outside the box that flashed just wide of the left post with Rogers beaten.
Bradley had another effort blocked in the box before Alfie Lewis volleyed after a corner kick broke the edge of the box for him in the 78th minute.
Pat’s only real chance came four minutes later when Forrester’s corner picked out Joe Redmond, but the centre-half’s scuffed effort was denied by Martin.
They would emerge victorious, however, when O’Reilly appeared with a late winner from Ben McCormack’s cut that could prove crucial at the end of the season.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepherd; John Mountney, Sam Bone, Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy; Greg Sloggett (Robbie Benson 31), Alfie Lewis; Steven Bradley, Joe Adams (Ward 68), Ryan O’Kane; John Martin (David McMillan 83).
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Dany Rogers; Sam Curtis, Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti; Barry Cotter, Adam O’Reilly, Chris Forrester (Ben McCormack 86), Thijs Timmermans, Anto Breslin; Serge Atakayi (Mark Doyle 64), Eoin Doyle (Tunde Owolabi 74).
Arbitrator: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).
#Addedtime #strike #sees #Saints #sink #Dundalk
