St. Patrick's Athletic 1 - 3 Shelbourne

The 50-year wait for an FAI Cup goes on for Patrick's Athletic as Shelbourne stunned their cross-city rivals 3-1 tonight in Richmond Park.
 
 

Pat's took the lead through David McMillan early on, but a Kevin Dawson penalty levelled scores. Brendan McGill put Shels ahead early in the second-half and David Cassidy sealed the win.

 

David McMillan gave Pats the lead after 14 minutes following an inauspicious start by the Saints. Derek Doyle crossed from the left wing after being released by Daryl Kavanagh. McMillan then headed the ball high at the far post, it looped up over Dean Delany in the Shels goal and into the net. Not long afterwards the other McMillan brother, Evan, headed just over right in front of the Shels goal from a Stephen Bradley-delivered free-kick.
 

It was a case of role reversal after 29 minutes as Pat's had a player sent off- just as Shels did last Friday. Keeper Gary Rogers was the Saints player to be red carded for bringing down Kevin Dawson in the box after the Shels midfielder cut inside from the flank. Dawson stepped up to slot the penalty in- sending substitute 'keeper Chris Bennion the wrong way.

David Cassidy broke away from the Pat's defence after 39 minutes after a low through ball by Brendan McGill, but pulled his shot wide from just outside the Pat's box. Shels used their numerical advantage to push their hosts hard for the rest of the half, with David Cassidy again threatening just before the break. Barry Clancy and Philly Hughes worked well together to tee Cassidy up for a shot just outside the Pat's box, but Conor Kenna was able to get across to him and block the shot just in time.

 

Shels began the first half as they closed the second and went ahead just three minutes into the half. Philly Hughes again played a part, laying the ball off well for David Cassidy after making a run himself down the right wing. Cassidy looked up and spotted an unmarked Brendan McGill moving into space on the left, playing a beautifully weighted lobbed pass for McGill to finish low past Bennion.
 

Derek Doyle tested his former teammate Dean Delany from a 30-yards free-kick on 50 minutes, but it was all Shels after that for about 10 minutes. Shane McFaul bundled over David Cassidy in the box after the Shels captain played a one-two with Philly Hughes. This time Kevin Dawson couldn't score from the penalty spot though, with Chris Bennion getting down well to save to his left.

Bennion's save spurred on the home crowd and the team were resurgent for a spell afterwards. The Saints pushed forward but their attacks always seemed to break down in the final third of the pitch. Ian Bermingham's cross into the Shels box on 75 minutes was the most trouble the Saints caused the away side in a half an hour, but it was belted clear for a corner. Evan McMillan rose well to the corner but headed wide.
 

With ten minutes left, Pat's again surged up the pitch in search of an equaliser, but Shels blocked down two successive shots from just outside their box. Shelbourne were content to keep the ball and seized their chance to close the match with four minutes left. Philly Hughes again had a hand in the goal, playing David Cassidy through on goal. Clean through on goal, Cassidy pulled the ball back and calmly chipped the ball over Chris Bennion.
 

Stephen Bradley struck the post with a free-kick moments later, but Shels ran out 3-1 winners in the end in a match not many initially gave them a hope of winning. Manager Alan Mathews can now look to repeat his 2003 and 2004 successes in the final against Sligo Rovers.
 

St. Patrick's Athletic: Gary Rogers; Ian Bermingham, Conor Kenna (C), Evan McMillan, Brian Shortall [Sean Stewart '83]; Shane McFaul [Ian Daly '64], Stephen Bradley, David McMillan [Chris Bennion '29], Derek Doyle; Daryl Kavanagh, Danny North.

Subs Not Used: Matthew Holland, Neil Harney, Jake Carroll, Niall Lanigan.
Yellow Cards: Daryl Kavanagh.
Red Cards: Gary Rogers.
 

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Ian Ryan, Sean Byrne, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley; John Sullivan [Gareth Matthews '83], Kevin Dawson, Barry Clancy, Brendan McGill; David Cassidy; Phillip Hughes [Philip Gorman '88].

Subs Not Used: Paul Skinner, Chris Mulhall, Davi Da Silva.
Yellow Cards: David Cassidy, Andy Boyle, Barry Clancy.

 

Referee: Dave McKeon.

Attendance: 2230 (official).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: David Cassidy.