Saints begin with a win in Longford
Saturday 10th March 2007, 9:48 pm
Mark Quigley scored twice for the Saints.
Photo by Tom Carey.
10th March 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Longford Town 1
David Mooney 24
St. Patrick's Athletic 2
Mark Quigley 15, 23
Flancare Park
Saint Patrick's Athletic kicked off their League of Ireland campaign with a tougher than expected win over troubled Longford Town at Flancare Park. Mark Quigley's goals before the mid-point of the first half proved decisive although Longford might have fought back to snatch a draw.
A swift counter-attack after 15 minutes produced Quigley's first goal. After a Longford attack broke down, the Saints surged forward and Quigley fired past Shay Kelly to make it 1-0.
Quigley, who scored just three league goals last year, netted his second of the night in the 23rd minute, firing home after good build-up play from Keith Fahey and Longford old-boy Alan Kirby.
However, the two goal deficit shook Longford into action and Dave Mooney turned the ball home just seconds later to make it 2-1. Former Saint David Freeman had been the creator of the goal.
The Dublin side shaded the remainder of the game without netting a decisive third. Gary O'Neill clipped the woodwork late on but Pats keeper Barry Ryan was forced to save well from Mooney in stoppage time.
Longford Town : Kelly, Sullivan, Brennan, Doherty, Prunty, Freeman, Rutherford, J Martin, Wexler (Reilly 76), R Martin, Mooney.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, S Quigley, C Foley, Brennan, Frost, Murphy (Maguire), Fahy, Ndo, Kirby, M Quigley (Rooney 66), O'Neill.