Buckley looking to end 52-year wait

St. Patrick's Athletic ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against St. Patrick's CYFC in Richmond Park on Friday night. Saints manager Liam Buckley was happy to advance at the first time of asking and avoid a replay.

“We're delighted to get through, obviously it's a cup game so it's important we win. We didn't want any replays. I thought we played quite well but in fairness to Pat's CY they've worked extremely hard, they've kept their shape extremely well and they've done well from a Leinster Senior League point of view,” Buckley told Extratime.ie.

It's been a torrid wait for the Saint's fans searching for FAI cup success. Pat's have last won the FAI cup in 1961 and have lost seven finals since then. A stat Buckley is all too familiar with.

“I've been involved in a few of those seven [FAI Cup final losses]. Somebody's going to win it this year. I don't know, we're in the mix and somewhere along the line that voodoo is going to be broke so please God it's this year.”

During the game young central defender Sean Hoare went down with what looked like on first glance a potentially serious injury. However, Buckley remains optimistic.

“He's gone over on his ankle, we're hopeful it's not that bad. We'll get it x-rayed but at the minute we don't think it's broke. Please God so if it's just a bad strain he'll be back fairly soon. He hasn't gone to hospital. At the minute the doctor said we'll strap it up and we'll see in the morning about it.