Sunderland's brace gives champions a lifeline in relegation battle
St. Patrick’s Callum Warfield (9) sees his superb header rebound off the crossbar Photo: © Michael O'Rourke Photography 2026
Joe Sunderland’s brace saw the reigning league champions St. Pat’s beat Hanover in their own patch to claim a big win that gives them a lifeline in the relegation battle. Defeat for Pat’s would have been damning as it would have left them trailing Hanover by two points with a game extra played. As it is, it puts distance between them and Hanover who were looking to get off the bottom for the first time this season. Pat’s were looking to avoid a seventh straight defeat in all competition whilst Hanover were looking to get back on track after losing their Premier Cup match against Burrin Celtic on penalties last week having led 3-1 in stoppage time. This is just a third league win of the season for Pat’s and it means they have now done the double over Hanover. It was a game featuring players on both sides who had played for both clubs with Harry Lloyd and Conor Harte having switched clubs over the summer with Dylan Doyle moving to Pat’s in January, whilst Brandon Kelly and Seb Millere both having previously played with the other club.
Jan Flejzsar opened the scoring with less than 30 seconds on the clock, and that set the tone for the rest of the match, Pat’s looked up for it and seemed hungry. Hanover struggled to get into the game and struggled to cope with the Pat’s intensity early on, and had a poor first half, not creating many chances.
Direct from the tip off, Pat’s pushed forward and Lord Afrifa played in Flejzsar who found the back of the net before anybody had time to breathe. With ten minutes gone, Callum Warfield had an effort from close range saved. Ravo Kilonda put in a ball from distance in for Flejzsar who missed the ball.
Pat’s doubled their lead when Sunderland, who missed the penalty that lost Pat’s their Premier Cup game against New Oak last week, headed in an effort from close range to double the Pat’s lead.
The closest Hanover came was a Liam Ryan bicycle kick but he hit it narrowly over the bar. Afrifa found space and went through 1 on 1 but the ‘keeper cleared. Ryan found space down the right before playing in Brandon Cassidy in the middle who, with the goalkeeper just to beat, hit a first time volley just over the bar. Just before half-time, Warfield flicked on a cross from the right to Afrifa who was waiting for it down the left but his effort was saved.
Hanover came out rejuvenated after the break. Within three minutes they had scored, an Eoghan Byrne corner from the left found Ryan in the middle who hit in to pull a goal back.
Two minutes later, Pat’s replied straight away. Anto McGrath, the Hanover ‘keeper was off his line, Joe Sunderland down the right spotted him and tried to chip an effort in but Conor Harte guided it wide. Dean Kelly’s corner from the right was headed in at the back post by Sunderland.
Afrifa found Flejzsar but his effort was hit off the crossbar. With 20 minutes gone in the second half, Hanover had a guilt edged chance to make it 3-2 when Kieran Nolan found himself in space but he somehow hit his effort wide on the left.
Naill Harvey, son of former Hanover Chairman and current CK United Chairman, Peter Harvey came on a sub and made an instant impact, putting a through ball into Ryan down the right who fired in an effort across the Pat’s ‘keeper.
Two minutes later, Warfield tried an effort from the left but it was palmed wide. Brandon Kelly’s corner from the left found the head of Warfield but he could only steer his effort onto the crossbar. In stoppage time, a Harvey free was headed wide on the left by Eoghan Byrne.
Anto McGrath, Kevin Power, Harry Lloyd, Conor Harte, Cian Ray, Luke Murphy, Eoghan Byrne, Cathal Coughlan, Kieran Nolan, Liam Ryan, Brandon Cassidy.
Seb Millere, Leon FitzGerald, Niall Harvey, Shane Murphy, Emmanuel Atkinson, Ben Doorley, Bailey Cooney.
Sean Murphy, Ravo Kilonda, Dean Kelly, Shane Buggy, Dylan Doyle, Brandon Kelly, Joe Sunderland, Joe Gordon, Callum Warfield, Jan Flejzsar, Lord Afrifa.
Tobi Jimoh, Luca Hutton, Ciaran FitzGerald, Luke FitzPatrick.
Pat O’Connor assisted by Paul Hunston and Christy O’Rourke
