SAINTS ON THE DOUBLE IN THRILLER
Bohemians 0 St Pat’s 2
DAIRE WALSH reports
Paul Crowley and David McMillan were the heroes for St. Patrick’s Athletic in Dalymount Park last night, as the Richmond Park-outfit recorded their seventh Leinster Senior Cup triumph.
The home side, who are the undisputed kings of this competition with 31 victories in total, started the game in fine form.
And they created the first real opportunity of the night eight minutes in when fine work by Lee Dixon found Stephen Traynor in space on the left, but his right-footed curler was well off target in the end.
With St Pat’s strikeforce of Danny North and Ian Daly becoming particularly prominent, they grew into the game.
Good work by Daly on the left-wing enabled McMillan to get a decent effort on goal that was deflected wide on 15 minutes.
North, who has proven to be a real revelation for the Inchicore men this season, turned provider 24 minutes in when he showed great skill to put McMillan through just to the right of Craig Sexton’s goal, but the former UCD man badly miscued his shot.
McMillan made amends for this missed opportunity just five minutes later though, by delivering a pin-point cross from the right-flank.
It was met by a bullet header from midfielder Crowley, who found a way past Sexton via the underside of the crossbar.
Five minutes after the re-start McMillan doubled his side’s advantage by poking past Sexton from close-in after the 19-year-old netminder had parried a blocked shot by North from a tight angle.
Bohs nearly took the first step towards a comeback when Traynor’s low shot from 25 yards had Bennion beaten, but it came off the foot of the post.
That being said, Pat’s did go close to making it three on 72 minutes when a cross-cum-shot by North hit the woodwork.
Bohs received a lifeline with eight minutes left on the clock when referee Phil Caschera pointed to the penalty spot, but Christy Fagan’s resulting spot kick was brilliantly turned away by Bennion.
BOHEMIANS: Sexton; O’Reilly (Seery 90), Lopes, Feely, Byrne; Burke, Hurley (O’Brien 66), McEvoy, Dixon (Buckley 59); Traynor, Fagan.
Subs not used: Mahon, Davidson, McCabe, Brady.
ST PAT’S: Bennion; Harney , Holland, Shorthall, Carroll; McMillan, McFaul (Lanigan 90), Crowley, Doyle (Stewart 65); North (O’Connor 84), Daly.
Subs not used: Rogers, Kenna, Hyland, Pepper.
Goals: Crowley 29, McMillan 50.
REFEREE: P Caschera (Dublin).
Weather: Damp and Breezy.
Entertainment Value: Bohemians 7, St. Pat’s 8.
Player Of The Match: Jake Carroll (St. Pat’s).