EA Sports Cup Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 3 St Patrick's Athletic

St. Patrick’s Athletic maintained a close grip on their EA Sports Cup title on Monday night as goals from Darren Dennehy, Jamie McGrath and Christy Fagan ensured they will fight it out with First Division opposition Limerick FC in September’s final courtesy of a 3-1 semi-final defeat of Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

In a week dominated by statements and reactionary statements surrounding St. Pats’ rejection of the Football Association's €5,000 investment for a strategic plan for each of the league’s 20 clubs, Monday’s game brought back a sense of normality and routine with a cup semi-final.

Pats were without midfield mainstays Keith Treacy and David Cawley due to injury and gave infrequently starts to Conor O’Malley in place of Brendan Clarke and Rory Feely instead of captain Ger O’Brien who dropped to the bench.

In a first half hampered by yellow cards and Shamrock Rovers dominance, St. Pats would have been too happy to head into the break on level terms. They were made to wait however as the new look Rovers under the guidance of manager Stephen Bradley continued their rejuvination, Pat Cregg and Gary McCabe easing the ball through midfield to line up chances for Sean Boyd and Dean Clarke up front.

It was the latter who opened the scoring following a rake of missed opportunities. The 23 year-old found himself beyond the last line of the St. Pats defensive line and meandered his body wonderfully to evade the challenge of the last defender.

The forward timed his shot well and it trickled under the dive of goalkeeper Conor O’Malley when it looked as though the St. Pats keeper had managed to keep it out.

Darren Dennehy was made to work hard in defence throughout the opening half as the creativity and running of Brandon Miele attempted to disrupt the defender’s newly formed partnership with Michael Barker, but it was at the other end that the former Cork City player made his mark.

Following a promising period of intricate attacking play from the dancing feet of Mark Timlin it was the former Derry City midfielder who swung in a peach of a corner at the far post which Dennehy was only too happy to use his frame to head the ball in off the post, as goalkeeper Murphy attempted to scramble clear.

Similar to the narrative of the opening forty-five, Rovers appeared the more willing and able side to create chances in a period of fits and starts after the break. But, again similar to the first half, St. Pats took to the role of team able to vitalise chances and use them at a minimum when they presented themselves.

This was brought into fruition as the visitors stormed into an unprovoked lead against the run of play after 57 minutes as time seemed to stop short just a moment for 19 year-old striker Jamie McGrath to eye a fanciful pocket inside the top corner of the goal which he was happy to wrap a wonderful curling effort into to take a 2-1 lead.

Rovers pushed on in search of the equalizer with chances coming for Brandon Miele and substitute Gary Shaw in-between two calls for a penalty, first from Dean Clarke which went unheard from referee David McKeown before Sean Boyd too went down inside the area only for the referee to deem it simulation and offer the striker a yellow card instead of a spot kick, much to the crowd’s displeasure.

For all of their want and attack, Rovers left a mighty gap behind them in defence which backfired when St. Pats’ striker Christy Fagan made a run against the run of play before rounding Murphy in the Rovers goal who had come from his line early, only for the Hoops’ goalkeeper to have a front row seat of Fagan slipping the ball into his empty net. The scoreline now set at 3-1, easing St. Pats into a consecutive EA Sports Cup final were they will meet Limerick in a month’s time.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; David Webster, David O’Connor, Gavin Brennan, Trevor Clarke, Shane Hanney, Gary McCabe, Pat Cregg, Brandon Miele, Sean Boyd, Dean Clarke

Subs not used: Craig Hyland (gk), Simon Madden, Sean Heaney, James Doona, Jamie Aherne, Stephen McPhail, Gary Shaw

Bookings: Sean Boyd (69)

St. Patrick's Athletic: Conor O’Malley; Ian Bermingham, Darren Dennehy, Lee Desmond, Michael Barker, Rory Feely, Mark Timlin, Sam Verdon, Steven Kinsella, Christy Fagan
Subs not used: Brendan Clarke (gk), Ger O’Brien, Sean Hoare, Graham Kelly, Conan Byrne, Billy Dennehy, Dinny Corcoran

Bookings: Christy Fagan (23), Darren Dennehy (45+2), Jamie McGrath (45+4),

Referee: David McKeown

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate)

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Darren Dennehy (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

You can see pictures from the game by Lazlo Geczo and Peter Fitzpatrick here.