St. Patrick’s Athletic were just too good for Dundalk in the second of today’s FAI Cup semi-finals and booked a place in the Aviva with relative easy.
Here’s how the game unfolded:
Full-time: Dundalk 0-3 St. Patrick’s Athletic
Here’s the team news for today’s second FAI Cup semi-final:
Dundalk: Cherrie; O’Brien, Foran, Burns, Osborne; Walsh, Mountney, Shields, Shanahan; Rafter, Conlon
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Murphy; O’Brien, Bermingham, Kenna, Browne; Chambers, Carroll, Forrester; J Kelly, O’Connor, Fagan
Can St. Pats end 51 years of hurt in the FAI Cup or will the Lillywhites make the most of home advantage?
As always, we’d love to hear you’re predictions in the comments below.
They’re biased but it doesn’t mean it’s not true. A much livelier atmosphere than the Brandywell earlier:
Cagey opening five minutes from both teams with Pats having the better of possession without creating anything resembling a chance so far.
Unfortunately, the action on the pitch is failing to live up to the atmosphere in the stands.
Dundalk are set up not to lose and are putting Pats under pressure all over the park.
Were this GAA, it would be considered the ‘blanket defence’; basketball ‘the full court press’, etc, etc.
It’s not pretty, but it’s effective so far in frustrating Pats.
John Mountney has the game’s first chance for Dundalk but his shot goes wide and fails to trouble the Pats’ goalkeeper.
Down the other end, Forrester wins Pats their first corner of the game after 16 minutes but the Dundalk ‘keeper collects the ball untroubled.
GOAL: Kenny Browne, 20 mins
St. Patrick’s Athletic have taken the lead in Oriel Park.
After Pats won a free kick in a great position about 20 yards from goal, Peter Cherrie made a wonderful save to deny Sean O’Connor.
However, the reprieve was short lived as Kenny Browne popped up to give the Dublin side the lead.
For the neutrals, that goal might be just what this game needs.
Dundalk can no longer afford to sit back and, having conceded their first goal in this season’s FAI Cup, will have to press the issue from here on.
They start with a brilliant solo run by Michael Rafter that forces Barry Murphy into a save.
Dundalk really going for it now but a diving header from Barry Conlon fails to find the target.
Conlon might have been better angling the ball across the goal rather than going towards the near post.
In fairness to Dundalk, they’ve been the better team since the goal and it means this has turned into an much more open game.
Michael Rafter looks like he might be the key to unlock this Pats defence and the Saints will have to keep a close eye on the 20-year-old.
Kenny Browne celebrates scoring St. Pats’ opener earlier:
I don’t know, I like it as it gives an interesting perspective on how the coach is feeling about his team. What about you?
It looks like James Chambers is going to have to come off for Pats to be replaced by Greg Bolger who injured his hip with a heavy fall on Oriel Park’s artificial surface.
Nice effort by Chris Forrester after making some space for himself for a shot from just outside the Dundalk area.
However, his shot is straight at Peter Cherrie and the game remains 1-0.
Jake Carroll picks up a yellow card for cynically pulling down John Mountney.
The free is taken by Michael Rafter but it could take the ball boys some time to find his effort that was nowhere near the target.
As the half-time whistle blows, there’s no point in trying to pretend this isn’t a poor game despite ten or so minutes of quality football in the middle of the half, particularly from Dundalk after Pats opened the scoring.
With a place in the FAI Cup final on the line though, we could still have a good game on our hands, particularly if the home side can find a goal early in the second half.
The second half is under way and neither manager has seen the need to make any changes.
It goes without say – but I’ll say it anyway because that’s my job – but Dundalk need to score the next goal to make this a contest.
If Pats score, I can’t see any way back for the Lilywhites.
Ger O’Brien has the first effort of the second half but his long range shot was never really threatening the Dundalk goal and drifts harmlessly wide.
GOAL: St. Patrick’s Athletic, Greg Bolger, 52 Mins
Difficult to see a way back for the home team now as the former Dundalk player Greg Bolger – on as a substitute – scores from close range to put the Inchicore club firmly in control.
Michael Rafter with a glorious chance to get Dundalk back into this game but, having done really well to turn Kenny Browne, he blazes his shot over Barry Murphy’s crossbar from 12 yards.
Another good chance for Dundalk but Conor Kenna puts in a last-gasp tackle to deny Gary Shanahan who looked certain to score.
This is a good spell of pressure for Dundalk but you feel they need to score in the next few minutes to have any chance at a comeback.
Another change for Pats as John Russell comes on to replace Chris Forrester.
With twenty minutes or so left, the Saints just need to control the tempo of the game and they can look forward to a day out in the Aviva stadium and a place in the FAI Cup final.
Eoghan Osborne gives away a free kick on the edge of the Dundalk area but Sean O’Connor is unable to punish them.
Greg Bolger celebrates scoring his side’s second goal:
With just over ten minutes to go this game is petering out and nobody can deny that Pats are worthy of their lead.
Apart from a 15 minute spell in the first half, they’ve dominated this game and will feel confident of ending 51 years without an FAI Cup victory, regardless of who they play in the final.
Nasty looking collision between Sean O’Connor and Stephen McDonnell but, after some treatment, both players look okay to carry on.
GOAL: St. Patrick’s Athletic, Sean O’Connor, 85 mins
Game, set and match for Pats as Sean O’Connor rolls the ball into an empty net after Dundalk ‘keeper Peter Cherrie comes to the edge of his area to make a clearance only for the ball to land straight at the feet of O’Connor who slots it cooly home.
And it’s all over in Oriel Park.
St. Patrick’s Athletic looked a class apart from Dundalk for large spells of today’s game and 3-0 is a fair reflection on their second half dominance.
They’ll have to wait until Wednesday night to find out who’ll be playing but, on this form, they won’t be concerned whether it’s Shelbourne or Derry.
