St. Patrick’s Athletic 1
Shelbourne 1
WHEN THE DUST settles after this pulsating FAI Cup tie, the Saints faithful will be scratching their heads and wondering how they’re not already in the quarter-finals.
Their men laid siege on Shelbourne’s goal for most of the game but will now have to travel to Tolka Park next Tuesday to replay the tie.
An equaliser from striker Alan O’Sullivan, after Christy Fagan had opened the scoring very early on, ensured a home replay for Shelbourne who must be praised for their workmanlike effort at the back; albeit with a bit of help from lady luck.
It was a white-knuckle start in Inchicore with the home side needing just four minutes to get the scoreboard moving. Keith Fahey hit the first of many dream passes to Ian Bermingham who found Chris Forrester further down the left. Defender Adam McDonnell slipped as Forrester’s ball came across allowing Fagan to slot it home.
The lead only lasted seven minutes. Not to be outdone by Fahey, Shelbourne midfielder Jordan Keegan found O’Sullivan in the box with a great ball. The striker turned and fired the ball past Brendan Clarke at the near post.
After initially pressing and chasing their hosts from the off, the visitors slowly dropped back and conceded several chances before the break with just two really troubling goalkeeper Greg Murray. A Conan Byrne cross almost dipped under the bar but Murray tipped it over before palming away a powerful Forrester effort.
It was panic stations for Clarke just after the restart. A pass from Shelbourne’s midfield cut through the opposition defence and the deftest of touches from Conor Murphy had the St. Pat’s goalkeeper scrambling to get a touch to it which saw the ball trickle just wide.
Normal service was resumed shortly after that and with 65 minutes on the clock Fahey almost had his team back in front with a shot from just inside the box but Philip Hand blocked it on the line. A follow up cross from Fahey found Hoare at the far post and the defenders cushioned shot flew just past the far post.
Byrne had two excellent chances within five minutes of each other midway through the half. The winger was marshalled well by the Shelbourne defence who made sure he failed to get on the end of a super ball across goal from Fagan. The next shot from further out was tipped over by man-of-the-match Murray.
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Clarke, O’Brien (C), Bermingham, Foran (Oman 46), Byrne, Fahey, Fagan, Brennan, Forrester, Hoare, McCormack. Substitutes: Gilmartin, Fitzgerald, Verdon, Bayly, Quigley, McGrath.
Shelbourne: Murray, Gannon (C), Hand, O’Connor, C.Murphy, Dempsey, Connolly, Keegan (Coughlan 67), O’Sullivan (Murtagh 81), McDonnell (Gallagher 46), McDonagh. Substitutes: N.Murphy, Robinson, Quinn, Russell.