St. Patrick’s Athletic 6-1 Finn Harps
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC easily swept aside the challenge of Finn Harps to confirm their place in this year’s FAI Ford Cup final after a one-sided clash at Richmond Park.
Killian Brennan and Conan Byrne both grabbed two goals each while Sean Hoare and Christy Fagan also got their names on the score-sheet as Pats romped to a 6-1 victory.
It was Brennan who gave his side the lead after 21 minutes – smashing a superb free-kick to the top corner.
But the visitors responded just six minutes later when Packie Mailey rose highest and his looping header found its way to the net. Harps’ positivity didn’t last too long however and they found themselves behind again after 37 minutes with another set-piece causing problems. This time Brennan supplied the delivery and Sean Hoare headed home.
Pat’s took a 3-1 lead to the break when Byrne got on the end of Fagan’s pass and finished well from close range.
Harps managed to stay in touch until midway through the second half when an error from their goalkeeper Conor Winn resulted in Brennan grabbing his brace.
With the game out of sight, Fagan added a fifth with 20 minutes to go while Byrne racked up his second of the game on 79 minutes.
Harps finished on ten men after striker Gareth Harkin was sent-off while manager Ollie Horgan also received a red card and was banished to the stands late on.
So, for the second time in three years, Pat’s qualify for the Cup final and they’ll face either Shamrock Rovers or Derry City in this year’s decider on 2nd November.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Clarke: O’Brien, Bermingham, Hoare, Browne; Chambers, Fahey, Brennan; Byrne, Forrester; Fagan.
Finn Harps: Winn, McNulty, McMonigle, Cowan, Mailey, Mailey, Funston, McCann, Harkin, McHugh, Coll.
