David Somers was the hat-trick hero at Porterstown Road, where St Mochta’s booked their place in the second round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Senior Cup at the expense of Leinster Senior League rivals Arklow Town.

The emphatic nature of the Mochta’s triumph was quite remarkable, as they had found themselves staring into a two-goal deficit just 25 minutes into the action. Paul Werder took advantage of some hesitancy in thehome team’s defence to break the deadlock on seven minutes, and after the ball bounced awkwardly inside the Mochta’s box, centre-forward Gavin Doyle headed beyond the reach of a stranded Warren Fee to double Arklow’s advantage.

The Clonsilla outfit had struggled to settle during the first-quarter, but following neat approach work by former Republic of Ireland international Glen Crowe on 34 minutes, David Somers’ close-range effort squeezed home with the help of the woodwork.

This galvanised the challenge of the hosts (who recently gained promotion to the top-flight of the LSL), and within 60 seconds of the restart, they were back on level terms. Incisive build-up play from Carl Somers and David Somers created an opportunity for Crowe inside the Arklow area, and the two-time Cup winner made no mistake from a distance of six yards.

After a difficult opening period, Mochta’s were beginning to play with more confidence, and just eight minutes into the second half, David Somers edged the north Dubliners into the ascendancy.

The lively front man poked home with considerable aplomb, and despite denying Carl Somers just past the hour mark, Arklow netminder Keith Hanley was subsequently beaten for a fourth occasion.

The blistering pace of left-winger Lee Dixon had enabled the experienced Crowe to join his strike partner in scoring twice, and five minutes into second-half stoppage-time, the superb David Somers completed a fine day’s work for Mochta’s with his third of the contest.

ST MOCHTA’S: Fee; Fitzpatrick, Sheridan, Harrison, Kelly; C Somers, Lyons, O’Neill (Lancaster 78), Dixon (O’Brien 89); Crowe (McCullagh 74), D Somers.

ARKLOW TOWN: Hanley; Mills (Kenny 88), Holt, Reid, J Doyle; Scales, Kelty, Hyland; Werder (Culleton 67), G Doyle (Roche 73), O’Neill.

Referee: O Murphy.