St Patrick's Athletic 1-3 Bohemians
Credit:
Bohemians cruised into the final of the Ford FAI Cup on Friday night, defeating an under par St Patrick's Athletic side by three goals to one. The win sets Pat Fenlon's side up for a historic league and cup double.
The visitors three goals all came in the first half, as they tore apart the Inchicore side. Pat's pulled one back not long after the break, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed as Bohs quickly regained control of the game, and in the end could have scored a couple more.
Bohs took the lead after just thirteen minutes. Stephen O'Donnell burst forward from midfield, side stepping a couple of challenges, but was then sent tumbling by Dave Partridge. Up stepped winger Killian Brennan and from twenty five yards he curled a left footed shot over the wall and into the corner of net.
Just two minutes later Fenlon's side extended their lead. Neale Fenn did well to hang on to the ball on the edge of the box, and then released Gary Deegan. Deegan's effort on his weaker foot was half blocked, but trickled goalwards and ended up over the line after hitting the base of the upright.
Keith Fahey looked to get the hosts back into the tie, but Brian Murphy plucked his twenty five yard free kick out of the air just in front of the upright after twenty six minutes. Fahey then provided the pass for Dempsey eight minutes before the break, but the former Yeovil midfielder volleyed wide from the edge of the box.
Then, with just three minutes remaining in the half, Bohs got their third. Fenn received possession from a throw in on the right and played it into the path of Owen Heary, The full back evaded the challenge Damien Lynch, before firing a right footed volley into the roof of the net past Barry Ryan.
Bohs could have easily been four ahead two minutes after the restart. Pat's were caught short at the back and when Brennan crossed from the left Glen Crowe was close with a header. Fahey forced another save from Murphy just after that, again from a free kick. But the goalkeeper of the year wasn't able to prevent the midfielder from pulling one back after fifty two minutes.
Dave Rogers sent a hopeful ball over the top of the Bohs defence and Fahey latched on it, taking one touch to control it and then finishing neatly.
Bohs then wasted two more openings. Mark Rossiter play Crowe through, but he fired wide with just Ryan to beat, Then Fenn and Crowe broke together, but the former Cork City mans final ball let him down, and allowed Ryan to clear before Crowe could get on the end of it.
St Patrick's Athletic: Barry Ryan; Joe O'Cearuill (Glen Fitzpatrick 87), David Partridge, Damien Lynch, Dave Rogers; Ryan Guy (Jaroslaw Bialek 44), Keith Fahey, Gary Dempsey, Alan Kirby; Jamie Harris, Mark Quigley.
Subs not used: Lance Friesz, Stephen Brennan, Noel Haverty, Stephen Fitzpatrick.
Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Liam Burns, Jason McGuinness, Mark Rossiter; Jason Byrne, Stephen O'Donnell, Gary Deegan, Killian Brennan; Glen Crowe, Neale Fenn (Glenn Cronin 78).
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Conor Powell, Thomas Heary, John Paul Kelly, Mindaugas Kolonas, Brendan McGill.
Referee: Dave McKeon.
Attendance: 4,879
