FAI Cup Report: St. Patrick's Athletic 8 - 0 Pike Rovers

View a series of images from the game taken by Extratime photgrapher Darragh Connolly

2014 FAI Cup Champions St Patrick's Athletic cruised to an 8-0 victory against Pike Rovers at Richmond Park on Saturday afternoon thanks to four goals in either half from Liam Buckley's side.

A brace from Mark Timlin, Billy Dennehy and Graham Kelly along with goals from Michael Barker and Dinny Corcoran ensure there was no slip up against the recent FAI Junior Cup finalist.

The Saints opened the scoring in the second minute after some excellent build up play saw Dylan McGlade find Dennehy with a lovely low pass before the forward glided into a hole and finished low past Gary Neville in the Pike goal.

The home fans at Richmond Park were not forced to wait long for their side’s next goal when two minutes later, McGlade was again involved. This time his cross from the right was hit into the air by a Pike defender before Timlin fired home from close range.

As the Saints continued to dominate possession they grabbed a third goal in the 14th minute after a lovely run from Dennehy saw the Saints attacker brought down on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick he made no mistake curling his effort around the wall and into the bottom corner.

Despite huffing and puffing at the visitors goal, it took Pats 20 minutes to add their fourth goal when Barker was allowed to glide up from the back unmarked before he raced onto a lovely pass from Dennehy on the edge of the box before firing a right footed past Neville from 12 yards.

The Saints grabbed their fifth goal four minutes into the second-half when Corcoran was fouled on the edge of the box before Kelly curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner.

Five minutes later, Timlin grabbed his second goal from close range after a low cross from Corcoran was parried by the Pike keeper who then saved from McGlade before Timlin fired home from close range.

On the hour mark, The Saints grabbed a seventh goal when Kelly again found himself standing over a dead ball on the edge of the box and for the second time he curled the ball over the wall and into the top corner with the aid of the woodwork.

Less than 60 seconds later, Pats grabbed what proved to be the final goal of the game when Barker found Corcoran free with a cross from the right flank and the forward made no mistake from close range with his headed effort.

As the final whistle fast approached, Kelly had a chance to seal his hat-trick from the penalty spot, but the central midfielder saw his spot kick cannon off the post before seconds later referee Andrew Mullally blew the full-time whistle to send the Saints into the third round draw.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien (Conor Kane 45), Sean Hoare, Lee Desmond, Michael Barker; Dylan McGlade, Graham Kelly, Sam Verdon, Mark Timlin (Stephen Grogan 64); Billy Dennehy (Darragh Mackey, 45), Dinny Corcoran.

Subs Not Used: Pat Jennings, David Cawley, Rory Feely, Shane McEleney.

Booked: None.

Pike Rovers: Gary Neville; Wayne O’Donovan, Patrick Mullins, Sean O’Callaghan, Edward O’Donovan; David Ryan (Paddy O’Malley 51), Wayne Colbert, Jason Mullins, Cian Collins, Gary Higgins; Colin Daly (John Conery 45).

Subs Not Used: None.

Booked: None.

Referee: Andrew Mullally

Attendance: 350 estimate

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Graham Kelly (St Patrick’s Athletic)