Cash: Saints patience paid off

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Brian Cash was a relieved man after he scored a late winner in St Patrick’s Athletic’s 1-0 win over Dundalk in the third round of the FAI Ford cup.

Despite having a two man advantage for the whole of the second half, Cash admitted that the Saints struggled to break down the Lilywhites. Cash’s winning goal in the final minute proved that, and spared the Saints blushes.

“It was hard in the second half, they defended really well as they got men behind the ball with the two men sent off,” he told Extratime. “Their keeper played well and made a few good saves and it looked like it was going to a replay but luckily enough, I got a goal at the end.”

Cash made his first appearance since returning from a thigh strain. Replacing Ian Bermingham after 50 minutes, Pete Mahon put Cash on the left side of midfield as the Saints went in search of the win. Cash pointed out that the early change proved to be a successful move.

“It was a case of trying to be patient. Obviously we were getting space out wide, so we were trying to be patient in our passing and keep getting it wide and get balls into the box. Eventually it worked as one of them fell for us.”

For the former Nottingham Forest player, it proved to be a much more successful outing in the FAI Cup in comparison to his last outing in the competition. Playing for Sligo Rovers last year, Cash started in the side that eventually lost 2-1 to Liam Buckley’s Sporting Fingal. When this was pointed out to the Saints winger, he could afford to show a wry smile.

“Yeah obviously the final with Sligo Rovers was going great up until the last five minutes, and then of course we lost. But it was great to get the win tonight with Pats, especially off the back of two defeats.”

Finally, Cash downplayed the Saints chances in the competition. With it being 49 years since their last FAI Cup success, it’s no surprise as to why Cash was reluctant to predict FAI Cup glory after the win at Oriel Park.

“I don’t know, it’s very early as we’re only just past the third round. We’ve got to think about Bray Wanderers on Tuesday night, then we’ll have the break, and then we’ll come back and re-group.”