CLIFTONVILLE’S REWARD FOR completing a Setanta Sports Cup double over St Patrick’s Athletic is a meeting with defending champions Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-finals.
Joe Gormley’s strike in the 69th minute gave Cliftonville a 1-0 win against Pat’s last night, 2-0 on aggregate, at the end of a second leg which the home side dominated for long spells.
Liam Buckley’s men controlled the first half in Inchicore and came closest when John Russell curled an effort off the post from the edge of the box, while Greg Bolger’s lob forced Ronan Scannell to scramble to clear his lines.
Christy Fagan, signed from Bohemians in the off season, also had a goal chalked off for for offside, but the momentum shifted in the 65th minute when Russell was shown a straight red card for a studs-up tackle on Ryan Catney.
Four minutes later, Gormley was on hand to prod home when Diarmuid O’Carroll’s shot came back off the bar, sending Cliftonville through to the quarter-finals at Pat’s expense for a second successive season.
Cliftonville will be back in Dublin on Monday 5 March for the first leg of their tie against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.
Elsewhere, Adam Martin scored the game’s only goal ten minutes from time as Bohemians completed a 3-1 aggregate win against Portadown last night. The Gypsies now face a tough test against Crusaders in the next round.
IFA Premiership leaders Linfield will host Derry City, who rounded off a comfortable win against Lisburn Distillery with a 3-0 home win (7-0 aggregate). Patrick McEleney, Stephen McLaughlin and Rory Patterson got the goals which saw the Candystripes progress.
Glentoran, who beat Bray Wanderers 3-0 (7-2 aggregate) at the Oval last night, face FAI Cup champions Sligo Rovers.
Setanta Sports Cup second round draw
- Shamrock Rovers v Cliftonville
- Crusaders v Bohemians
- Linfield v Derry City
- Sligo Rovers v Glentoran
Ties to be played on 5 & 20 March
