Shelbourne 1 - 1 St. Patrick's Athletic

Ten-man Shelbourne forced a replay against pre-match favourites St. Patrick's Athletic through a 72nd minute Phillip Hughes goal as they came from behind in their FAI Cup semi-final at Tolka Park on Friday night.

Hughes cancelled out Danny North's first half opener for Pat's, meaning that the two sides will play again for a place in the FAI Cup final this Monday.

Shels had the better start, with Anto Murphy heading the ball just over his own goal on nine minutes after David Cassidy crossed the ball in. Gary Rogers had to push the ball off his line after Philip Hughes headed the ball down from Shels' second of four corners in the space of two minutes.

Hughes went close again on 12 minutes, shooting just wide after being played in on the counter-attack by David Cassidy. Gradually Pat's grew in confidence though and Stephen Bradley forced a good save out of Dean Delany with his 22nd minute free-kick after Daryl Kavanagh was pulled down by Colm James a few yards outside the Shels box.

Dean Delany had to save another well-struck Bradley free-kick after a half an hour, but this one was considerably easier for the Shels keeper to claim. Anthony Murphy headed just over eight minutes later right in front of the Shels goal after a superb left-footed Ian Bermingham cross.

It wasn't long before Pat's, who looked the more likely to score for most of the first half, were on the attack again and this time they were more clinical. On 41 minutes a corner came in and was half-cleared by Shels captain David Cassidy to the edge of the box, where Danny North was waiting. North drove the ball low and hard past the Shels defence and Dean Delany straight into the bottom corner.

Soon after the goal came another of the main talking points of the half. Colm James and Anthony Murphy went up for a high ball and on the way down became entangled. James kicked out at Murphy's face and was sent off. Pats had a good chance to double their lead on 54 minutes, but Shane McFaul could only shoot straight at Dean Delany from a good position.

Daryl Kavanagh dragged his shot wide inside the Shels box just before the hour mark after doing well to make space for himself. Shels attempted to pull themselves back into the match, bringing on striker Philip Gorman for wide player Brendan McGill after 63 minutes. But every attempt to attack left them vulnerable to a swift Pat's counter.

One of those counter-attacks left Anto Murphy open a yard or two outside the Shels box on 68 minutes. Danny North passed from the wing for Murphy to chip the ball onto the Shels crossbar. But just four minutes later Shels were back on level terms.

A long Dean Delany goal kick missed the head of a Pat's defender before being flicked on by Phillip Hughes. Kevin Dawson received the ball just outside the Pat's box and did well to hold the ball up. A poked attempt at a clearance from a Pat's defender meant the ball fell for Pat's youth product Phillip Hughes to stab it into the goal on 72 minutes.

Almost immediately Pats went on a frantic search for the winner. The Saints had most of the ball in the latter stages but didn't create many clear chances. Underdogs Shels held on through four minutes additional time to force a replay on Monday night in Richmond Park.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Ian Ryan, Sean Byrne, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley; Colm James, Kevin Dawson, Brendan McGill [Philip Gorman '63], Barry Clancy; David Cassidy (c); Philip Hughes [Davi Da Silva '89].
Subs Not Used: Paul Skinner, John Sullivan, Chris Mulhall.
Yellow Cards: Barry Clancy, Ian Ryan.
Sent Off: Colm James.

 

St.Patrick's Athletic: Gary Rogers; Derek Pender, Ian Bermingham, Conor Kenna (c), Evan McMillan; Shane McFaul [Paul Crowley '70], Stephen Bradley [David Mulcahy '89], Anthony Murphy, Derek Doyle [David McMillan '86]; Daryl Kavanagh, Daniel North.
Subs Not Used: Chris Bennion, Brian Shortall, Jake Carroll, Ian Daly.
Yellow Cards: Ian Bermingham.

 

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 2,538 (official).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Daryl Kavanagh.