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St. Pat's claim first FAI Cup...

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St. Pat's claim first FAI Cup title since 2014 as they beat Bohs on penalties

98FM
98FM

07:17 28 Nov 2021


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St. Patrick's Athletic are the Extra.ie FAI Cup champions for the first time in seven years.

That's after they beat Bohemians on penalties in their all Dublin affair on Sunday afternoon.

A crowd of over 37,000 people were in attendance to see the season ending showpiece event of Irish football.

The first half of the game didn't really live up to the occasion as they kicked-off in a smoke engulfed Aviva Stadium.

Pat's slightly edged it in terms of dominating although playing without a recognised striker cost them and they really lacked a finisher to put it away in the final third.

Their best attempt of the first-half came in the 35th minute when Jamie Lennon and Robbie Benson combine superbly just outside the box.

Lennon then sent a good effort towards the bottom right corner but Bohs keeper James Talbot responded really well to get down and claw it around the post.

The sides went in scoreless after 45 minutes.

The second half then started relatively uneventfully, in what was a cagey contest.

Bohs' biggest chance came just before the hour marker.

Liam Burt found himself free down the left hand side of the pitch.

He sent a low ball into Ali Coote and his strike was blocked by Lee Desmond but the ball fell straight to Georgie Kelly who's effort was somehow blocked by Pat's keeper Jaros' shoulder.

Just two minutes later Bohs had to make what would usually be a major substitution as Promise Omochere came on for Georgie Kelly who was suffering from what looked like cramp.

Bohs fans would usually panic at the sight of the SSE Airtricity Premier League's top goalscorer going off but he hadn't reached his usual heights in this game.

Omochere then got into the game quickly and did look dangerous in front of goal but couldn't convert for the Phibsborough side.

Fireworks were set off and flares released onto the pitch but that was as exciting as it got really with players getting tired as the clock ticked on.

Six minutes of added time wasn't enough to see a winner and as with so many recent cup finals extra-time was required.

The breakthrough then came for Pat's just before half-time in extra-time.

Chris Forrester turned on the style as he ran from the halfway line and went inside Promise Omochere before sending home a lovely, lovely effort.

Pat's, who were in fairness the better side on the day, led 1-0 at the break of extra-time.

Bohs didn't allow their heads to drop though and responded excellently once play resumed after the break.

Rory Feeley got on the end of a Keith Ward corner to head the ball home and level it up.

And suddenly the game was on as the belated drama arrived at Lansdowne Road.

Bohs then had a great chance approaching full-time of injury-time as Stephen Mallon sent a rally nice cross into Ross Tierney who headed a nice effort that Jaros somehow batted over the bar.

Jaros was the hero again then from the corner as he clawed Rob Cornwall's volley away.

Rory Feely then had a go and it was so, so close to going into the back of the net before somehow it was cleared off the line by defender Jak Hickman.

So close for the Gypsies but not enough and penalties were required at the Aviva Stadium.

And it was Robbie Benson who was the hero for the Saints as he found the back of the net when the pressure was on to secure a 4-3 win on spot-kicks.

Jason McClelland, Billy King and Ronan Coughlan also scored from the spot for Alan Mathew's side to secure their first FAI Cup title since 2014.


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