St. Patrick's Athletic 2-0 IBV Vestmannaeyjar (Agg: 2-1)
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC continued their impressive European form at Richmond Park with a memorable Europa League First Preliminary Round win over Icelandic side IBV.
First half goals from Ian Daly and Derek Doyle secured a 2-1 aggregate win for Pete Mahon's side.
Both sides went into the tie knowing that Kazhakstan club Karagandy were awaiting the winners after a 2-1 win over Koper earlier in the day gave the Kazhaks a 3-2 aggregate victory over the Slovenians.
IBV started with purpose and home keeper Gary Rogers was forced to make a decent save to keep out a low strike from Tryggvi Gudmundsson in the eighth minute.
But the Saints fans were soon in raptures when Pete Mahon's side broke the deadlock in the 24th minute.
Daryl Kavanagh produced real skill and composure to carve out a cross from deep on right flank.
Ugandan international keeper Abel Dhaira flapped at the cross and when the ball dropped, Ian Daly reacted quickly to steer home on the volley with a left footed effort that looped into the net.
That tied matters on aggregate but the home fans were always wary that an away goal for IBV would present a major obstacle to their side's chances of progression.
Three minutes after their opener, St Pat's were almost undone when a low cross from the left found Gudmundsson and his close range effort appeared destined for the bottom corner until Rogers stuck out a foot to save brilliantly.
Mahon's men took control of the tie in the 36th minute when they extended their lead. A Stephen Bradley free-kick from the left was flicked on by Danny North and Evan McMillan did well to head it back into play where Derek Doyle arrived on cue to head home.
That meant St Pat's would now progress if they kept the Icelandic side scoreless but all their good work would be undone if IBV scored once as they would progress on away goals in the event of a draw.
Rogers was called into action once more two minutes after Doyle's goal but he always had his body behind the powerful low strike by Andri Olafsson from outside the box.
Gudmundsson should have found the net in the 40th minute after a quick counter by Kelvin Mellor down the right saw Ian Jeffs cut the ball back for Gudmundson who was unmarked ten yards from goal but shot wide.
The second half was a cagey affair with the Saints looking to protect their lead while keeping an eye open for the counter-attacking possibilities.
Kavanagh might have sealed the tie in the 66th minute when he beat his marker on the right and cut inside only to drill narrowly wide at the far post.
Everything almost fell asunder for the home fans in the 92nd minute when Matt Garner had a snap shot following a corner that went straight at Rogers.
St Patrick's Athletic: Rogers; Pender, Bermingham, E McMillan, Shortall (Murphy 84), McFaul, Kavanagh, Bradley, North (D McMillan 87), Doyle, Daly (Crowley 76)
IBV: Dhaira; Garner, Ólafsson (Hughes 74), Valdimarsson (Thorarinsson 81), Ólafsson, Gudmundsson, Mawejje, Mellor, Sigurbjornsson, Christiansen, Jeffs (Sytnik 62).
Referee: N Dunauskas (Lit
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