Match Preview

St Patrick's Athletic vs Shelbourne

St Patrick's Athletic ran riot in a feisty first half to ensure Damien Duff's Shelbourne endured a less than ideal preparation ahead of next week's showpiece FAI Cup final at the Aviva.

An action packed first half saw the hosts race to a three-goal lead thanks to an Eoin Doyle double and a well taken Anto Breslin finish that secured bragging rights, as The Saints brought the curtain down on another season in Inchicore.

The visitors were close to opening the scoring ten minutes in when Sean Boyd fashioned a yard of space to the right of the area and let rip with a thunderbolt destined for the roof of the net, but he was denied brilliantly by David Odumosu.

This sparked The Athletic into life and just minutes later they got themselves in front in somewhat controversial circumstances. Anto Breslin delivered a delicious ball around the Shels defence finding top-scorer Eoin Doyle to side foot home. The flag was raised for offside initially, but referee Paul McLoughlin seemed to overrule his assistant and pointed to the centre circle.

The Breslin/Doyle combination paid dividends again moments later when Breslin delivered a sweeping pinpoint ball to the danger area, finding the ex-Swindon man who headed home expertly under pressure.

Tackles continued to fly in as the yellow card was seeing more action than the goalkeepers now. Mark Coyle and Jack Moylan both saw yellow for late challenges on Barry Cotter, with the latter being replaced just after the half hour mark to protect him ahead of the Final.

As the break approached, the dynamic duo combined yet again for the Saints third, as Doyle turned provider on this occasion, sliding in Breslin who whipped a shot into the far corner, giving ex-Pat's keeper Brendan Clarke no chance.

Club legend Ian Bermingham was introduced at halftime as he took his final bow after an incredible 12-year stint at the Inchicore side and was given the type of reception their record appearance holder deserved, with each touch greeted with "shoot" from the vocal home support.

A quieter second half was brought to a close when the excellent Ben McCormack showed great composure to get past Clarke and put the icing on the cake. Then, in emotional scenes, substitute Bermingham was given a guard of honour from his side as he departed with just seconds remaining

Tim Clancy's troops now face a nervy week-long wait to find out if their fourth place finish will prove enough to sneak into Europe, hoping that Derry City do them a favour by downing The Reds.

© rte.ie

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
November, 6th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Shelbourne	0	REPORT
October, 14th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Bohemians	1	REPORT
September, 30th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Derry City	1	REPORT
September, 2nd 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Finn Harps	1	REPORT
August, 14th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Sligo Rovers	0	REPORT
July, 31st 2022	FaiCup	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Waterford	3	REPORT
July, 21st 2022	EuropaConferenceLeague	St Patrick's Athletic	1	NS Mura	1	REPORT
July, 15th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Dundalk	1	REPORT
July, 1st 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Drogheda United	0	REPORT
June, 27th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Shamrock Rovers	2	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
October, 28th 2022	League	Sligo Rovers	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
October, 21st 2022	League	Shamrock Rovers	4	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
October, 7th 2022	League	Dundalk	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
October, 3rd 2022	League	Shelbourne	4	St Patrick's Athletic	4	REPORT
September, 9th 2022	League	Drogheda United	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
August, 29th 2022	League	Bohemians	1	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
August, 19th 2022	League	UCD	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
August, 4th 2022	EuropaConferenceLeague	CSKA Sofia	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
July, 28th 2022	EuropaConferenceLeague	NS Mura	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
June, 24th 2022	League	Finn Harps	2	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
November, 6th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Shelbourne	0	REPORT
October, 3rd 2022	League	Shelbourne	4	St Patrick's Athletic	4	REPORT
May, 20th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Shelbourne	2	REPORT
February, 18th 2022	League	Shelbourne	0	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
September, 26th 2020	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shelbourne	0	REPORT
February, 28th 2020	League	Shelbourne	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
February, 1st 2019	Friendly	Shelbourne	0	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
September, 28th 2018	LeinsterSnrCup	Shelbourne	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
August, 28th 2017	LeinsterSnrCup	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Shelbourne	1	REPORT
February, 5th 2017	Friendly	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Shelbourne	2	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
November, 6th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Shelbourne	0	REPORT
October, 28th 2022	League	Sligo Rovers	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
October, 21st 2022	League	Shamrock Rovers	4	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
October, 14th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Bohemians	1	REPORT
October, 7th 2022	League	Dundalk	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
October, 3rd 2022	League	Shelbourne	4	St Patrick's Athletic	4	REPORT
September, 30th 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Derry City	1	REPORT
September, 9th 2022	League	Drogheda United	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
September, 2nd 2022	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Finn Harps	1	REPORT
August, 29th 2022	League	Bohemians	1	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT