FAI Cup Report: Inchicore Athletic 0 - 5 St. Patrick's Athletic

John Manning reports from Richmond Park

The Inchicore derby was claimed by the senior contestant but St. Patrick's Atheltic were made to work hard for their eventual 5-0 win over Leinster Senior League neighbours Inchicore Athletic.

Inchicore were playing against their heroes in the much more vaunted St. Pat's but won many admirers for their dogged resistance for 55 minutes despite the Saints huge dominance of possession.

Liam Buckley’s men absolutely owned the ball in the first half and might have led inside eight minutes. Ryan Brennan's header from Simon Madden's right wing cross smacked against the bar and rebounded back into play.

Exactly the same fate awaited an Ian Turner bullet header from another Madden cross after 33 minutes.

The Saints continued to carve out the opportunities. Killian Brennan went close with a 25 yard free kick before a Jamie Lennon piledriver flashed past the post.

Turner failed to properly connect with an Ian Bermingham chip while the skipper couldn't direct his header from Turner's cross on to the target.

Liam Buckley's men forced a succession of first half corners but couldn't find a decisive touch to Killian Brennan's deliveries.

Forced into an early change when striker Stephen Kinch retired with an injury, Inchicore couldn't eke out an opportunity in the opposing box.

Disaster struck Inchicore right at the start of the second half when left back Leon Fahey Byrne was dismissed for a second yellow card. 



After Lee Desmond had spurned a free header at the back post from a right win Killian Brennan free kick, the Saints finally took the lead in the 55thminute.

Darragh Markey probed into the Inchicore box, linked well with Turner and drilled the return pass low into the bottom corner.

Inchicore's stout defence continued until they were undone by a 76thminute goalkeeping error. Patrick Reilly allowed a relatively tame Jake Keegan shot to squirm under this body and into the net.

After that, the floodgates opened as Pat's added three within ten minutes. Conan Byrne came on as sub to covert an 81stminute penalty kick after Keegan had been fouled in the area. 

Keegan then took advantage of a quick Pat's breakaway six minutes later to slide his second under the advancing Reilly. 

Conan Byrne delivered the coup de grace with a stunning 88th minute cross shot that beat Reilly and nestled in the bottom corner.



Bragging rights for the Saints then but Inchicore Athletic can be very proud of their efforts.

Inchicore Athletic: Patrick Reilly; Sean Plunkett, Derek Roche, Mark Donohoe, Leon Fahy Byrne; Jack Cronin (Corey O’Rourke 79), Darren Howe (Karl Malone 58) Dean Power, Conor Bolton, Daniel Geraghty; Stephen Kinch (Stephen Fay 21).

Subs not Used: Sean Berry, Gareth Byrne, Ian O’Brien, Jamie Coogan, Ian O’Brien.

Booked: Leon Fahey Byrne, Stephen Fay.

Sent off: Leon Fahey Byrne.

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke, Simon Madden, Kevin Toner, Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham; Killian Brennan, Darragh Markey, Jamie Lennon, Ryan Brennan (Conor Clifford 62); Ian Turner (Conan Byrne 80) Dean Clarke (Jake Keegan 62).

Subs not Used: Barry Murphy, James Doona, Graham Kelly 83, Michael Leahy.

Booked: None

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Attendance: 1,000 (est.).

Extratime.ie Man of The Match: Jake Keegan (St. Patrick’s Athletic).

    About John Manning

    John Manning began writing for Extratime.ie this year after retiring from the insurance industry. He has been a regular attendee at League of Ireland football matches since the 1970s. He has particularly supported Cork Hibs, … View Full Profile