Shamrock Rovers to host St Patrick's Athletic in EA Sports Cup semi-final

Pat Fenlon’s Shamrock Rovers will have to overcome bogey side St. Patrick’s Athletic if they are to progress to the 2016 EA Sports Cup final.

The Tallaght side were drawn out to face the current holders of the League Cup, in a repeat of last season's semi-final, at today’s draw at FAI headquarters in Dublin.

In the other last four tie, runaway First Division leaders Limerick will make the long trip north to the Brandywell to face Derry City, a repeat of the 1991 League Cup final, which the Candystripes won.

Indeed, Martin Russell’s Super Blues were the only side of the four remaining to advance from the quarter-final stage without having to negotiate either extra time or penalties.

They comfortably overcame Premier Division Galway United at the Markets Field on Tuesday evening. Goals from their fledgling defender Paudie O’Connor and ‘skipper Shane Duggan saw Limerick progress by two goals to nil.

Record 10-times winners of this competition, Derry City gained a surprising, but thoroughly deserved, 2-1 win over Cork City after extra time at Turner’s Cross with Barry McNamee and Dean Jarvis advancing Kenny Sheils’ side to the last four after the match had ended 1-1 following 90 minutes.

Shamrock Rovers had ‘keeper Craig Hyland to thank after he saved three spot kicks in their penalty shoot-out win that proceeded their 1-1 stalemate with Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

Holders St. Pat’s and Bray Wanderers were involved in what was surely the tie of the round. The Inchicore men eventually prevailed on the right end of a 3-2 score line AET, with Mark Timlin scoring their winner in the 111^th minute.

Both ties will be played on Bank Holiday Monday, August 1^st, with kick-off times yet to be confirmed.

The draw in full:

Derry City vs Limerick

Shamrock Rovers vs St. Patrick’s Athletic