Match Report
St Francis v Salthill Devon
By Stephen Finn
ST FRANCIS picked up their first win of the FAI National League with a comprehensive victory over Salthill Devon at John Hyland Park today. Two first half goals by Danny Hickey gave the home side control of the game and they opened up after the break to seal the three points through goals by Conor Behan and Jamie Gray before Salthill pulled one back with a free-kick from Josh Keane-Quinlivan.
After a solid start, St Francis grabbed the opener on 13 minutes when Hickey got in behind the visiting defence from a Rory Garvey through-ball and slotted past the advancing goalkeeper.
Hickey found the net again in the 32nd minute after another powerful run by Garvey led to him cutting the ball back for Behan, who hit the crossbar with his snap shot and Hickey tapped home the loose ball.
Home keeper Colin McCabe was a solid presence at the back for St Francis. The former Celtic and Shelbourne goalkeeper dealt with most things Salthill threw his way.
The second half started strongly for St Francis when Behan volleyed home just a minute after the restart from Evan Farrell's cross.
Gray slotted home the fourth in the 54th minute with a composed finish after cutting in from the left to put the result beyond doubt.
Keane-Quinlivan rounded up the scoring with a consolation strike for the visitors with a long range free-kick in the 84th minute.
Salthill Devon travel to TU Dublin next Saturday while St Francis travel to Letterkenny Rovers on October 10. The Donegal side are joint top with Salthill Devon after four games with both on seven points and St Francis are third with five points.
ST FRANCIS: Colin McCabe; Evan Farrell (Harry McEvoy 63), Seamus Curley, Conor Behan (Sean McManus 68), Rory Garvey (Babatunde Animashaun 77), Jamie Gray, Zach Donohue, Abdulrahman Bouderbala, Luke Scanlon, Dylan Stack (Jack Savage 68), Danny Hickey (Lasha Baramidze 63).
SALTHILL DEVON: Begleyl; Obasa (MacGiollarnath 60), Idemudia (Sow 48), Crowe, O'Rourke, McDonnell, Molloy, Connolly, Omorodion (Darcy 48), Carroll, Lapointe-Guevara (Keane-Quinlivan 76).
