LIAM’S CRUM’ OF COMFORT
Buckley takes the positives
St Pat’s Athletic……………………… 3
Crumlin United……………………… 0
By DAIRE WALSH
It was a case of Groundhog Day in Richmond Park yesterday, as St Patrick’s Athletic recorded a comprehensive 3-0 FAI Cup triumph over local rivals Crumlin United for the second year running.
Saints supremo Liam Buckley was certainly happy to have progressed to the next round, though there are certain areas where he feels his side have room for improvement.
“I’m happy with the result, but I want us to be playing better. At 2-0, I think the lads took the foot off the pedal a little bit. We got a little bit sloppy at times with our passing and our movement. But we’re through, which is great,” Buckley said.
The Leinster Senior League Senior Division Champions, who had Ciaran Kenna (brother of St Pat’s captain Conor) as part of their midfield, played former Saints and Shamrock Rovers man Ger Rowe in front of their back four in an attempt to stifle the potent Pat’s attack.
Their best-laid plans went to waste after three minutes, when Derek Griffin inadvertently sliced the ball over the head of keeper David Meehan via a tantalising cross by Darren Meenan.
This was a major set-back for Crumlin, who would have been looking to contain their big-time opponents in the opening quarter, but things would get even worse for them nine minutes later when Jake Carroll coolly dispatched a 12-yard drive to the back of Crumlin net following more good work out wide by Meenan.
It was looking extremely ominous for Crumlin, although Daniel Loughran (nephew of manager Martin)
did force Brendan Clarke into a fine save on 17 minutes after Conor Kenna had misplaced a pass in defence.
Industrious
The industrious Darren Forsyth did flash a 25-yard strike just over on 42 minutes, though Pat’s also went close to grabbing their third with opportunities for John Russell and striker Christy Fagan.
Rowe did have a half-chance to pull one back against his former employers six minutes after the re-start, but Greg Bolger was able to cut out the danger.
Carroll was the stand-out performer for Buckley’s outfit. His free-kick on 57 minutes flashed just over.
Pat’s were still well on top in the second period, but they weren’t carving the Crumlin defence open in the way that they would have hoped.
They had plenty of talent in reserve, though, and the introduction of Dean Kelly and Sean O’Connor offered them fresh impetus in the final third.
Excellent wing play by the determined Carroll gave Dean Kelly the chance to put his name on the scoresheet 71 minutes in, but he shot tamely at Meehan from close-range.
Pat’s would muster up a third goal before the end of the tie, as sub Jake Kelly (a 75th minute replacement for man of the match Carroll) shot to the far corner of the net.
After they travel to face Roddy Collins and Monaghan United next Friday, St Pat’s will have a break of almost three weeks.
Buckley feels that, if they come away with a win from that encounter, they will be heading into the break in good spirits.
“I think so. It’s coming around at a reasonably good time. If we get Monaghan out of the way with a result, as in a win, we’ll be happy. We’ll be in the top three spot, and not a million miles off the top, and still in the cup,” Buckley added.
ST PAT’S: Clarke 7; O’Brien 7, Conor Kenna 7, Browne 7, Bermingham 7; Forrester 7, Russell 8, Bolger 7, Carroll 9 (J Kelly 75, 7), Meenan 7 (O’Connor 66, 7); Fagan 7 (D Kelly 59, 6).
Subs not used: Daly, Flynn, Price, Murphy.
CRUMLIN: Meehan 7; Cooney 6, Griffin 6, McCabe 6 (Cramer 63), Connaughton 6; Rowe 7; C Forsyth 6, Ciaran Kenna 6, Lee 6 (Redmond 81), Loughran 6 (McGreal 63, 6); D Forsyth 6.
Subs not used: Roach, Hennesy, Sherlock.
REFEREE: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
WEATHER: Warm and Sunny.
ENTERTAINMENT: Tame and one-sided.