FAI Cup: St Patrick's CYFC 0 - 3 St Patrick's Ath

St Patrick’s Athletic eased into the third round of the FAI Ford Cup with a comfortable victory over non-league, St Patrick’s CYFC at Richmond Park on Friday night.

Progression, however, was tainted slightly with the sight of Sean Hoare stretched off the field with a ankle injury sustained 15 minutes from the close.

Despite the underdogs tag, CY almost sprung an early surprise as Alan Murphy’s out-swinging corner was nodded over goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin by Mark Boland but Ian Bermingham shunted back onto the goal-line to clear.

Bermingham then rose to prominence at the opposite end, his low cross was diverted out towards, Conor McCormack but the full back thrashed a shot wide from the edge of the area. A brilliant passing move moments later involving, Keith Fahey, Daryl Kavanagh and Killian Brennan, prized the Leinster Senior League side open, Bermingham the beneficiary, but a stinging drive flashed across the face of goal and wide.

Following a brief passage of sharp, intelligent passing, St Pat’s slumped into a frustrating spell, yet still managed to carve their opponents open. Christy Fagan fizzing the ball wide for last week’s hat-trick hero, Conan Byrne to deliver for Daryl Kavanagh who was denied by ‘CY stopper Darren McGarry.

The marauding Bermingham forced the Ringsend stopper into smothering a crisp drive before the half’s mid-section. An injury to assistant referee, Darragh Keegan halted any momentum the league champions were beginning to assemble.

McGarry scampered from his line to quash Fagan’s desire to brake to deadlock, but the ‘keeper was helpless three minutes before the interval, as Byrne drove home a long anticipated opener.

James Chambers ignited the move in midfield, his pass forward was diverted onto Conor McCormack by Byrne who returned the favour, sliding the winger into the area from where he guided past McGarry.

CY retained their 4-5-1 approach in the second half and continued to working diligently around the field if with little reward in attack. Kavanagh squandered the first opportunity after the restart, curling over after substitute Mark Quigley forced the ball the flankers way. 

With the Ringsend side forced deeper, Pats began to dictate higher up the pitch and struck for a delightful second goal nine minutes in the second period. Fahey combined with Bermingham before unleashing an unstoppable right footed drive from 25 yards that nestled in the top corner despite McGarry’s best efforts.

Brennan was the width of the crossbar away from netting a third with a stinging snap shot shortly afterwards. 

Tiring but still plugging away CY managed to refrain their opponents until the closing stages, when Byrne flashed an effort wide, preceding the third and final goal. Substitute Greg Bolger stole back possession for his side before freeing Kavanagh on the left, cutting inside he thrashed a shot low beyond McGarry. Mark Quigley almost added a fourth approaching stoppage time, the forward combined cleverly with Fahey but guided off the outside of the post.

St Patrick’s CYFC: Darren McGarry, Paul Healy, Lee Weafer, Gerard Griffin (Stephen Ryan 81), Leo Ridgeway, Alan Murphy, Mark Boland, Andrew Doolin, Jason Doyle (Michael McCaffrey 66), Thomas Dunne.
Subs not used: Doolin, Derek Ridgeway, Stephen Murphy.

Bookings: A Doolin (), Hannigan (), Weafer ().

St Patrick’s Athletic: Rene Gilmartin; Conor McCormack, Kenny Browne, Sean Hoare (Ken Oman 71), Ian Bermingham; Daryl Kavanagh, James Chambers (Greg Bolger 63), Keith Fahey, Killian Brennan, Conan Byrne; Christopher Fagan (Mark Quigley 46). 
Subs not used: Pat Jennings, Lee Lynch, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Chris Forester.

Bookings: 

Referee: Robert Rogers

Attendance: 672

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ian Bermingham (St Patrick’s Ath).