Shamrock Rovers (0) - St Patrick's Athletic (2)

Match Report

Shamrock Rovers 0 - St Patrick's Athletic 2

Paul Keegan and Trevor Molloy had both endured a three-month goal drought during the season, after making a sterling start to it.

They came back, in some style, to their own in recent weeks and their strikes last night at Tolka Park were typical of the awakening that is happening in Inchicore at present.

For Rovers they can take heart from a spirited display and Jamie Duffy had an opportunity to equalise in the closing stages. Devoid of no less than eleven players, Pat Scully s squad were down to the bare bones in the end and it showed as their more experienced opponents advanced.

Pat's took the lead after 18 minutes, when Keegan ran onto a Mick Foley through-ball. The lanky striker had scored for Longford in the 2004 final and his low shot was enough to beat Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Keegan had to retire at half-time due to stomach bug and his team certainly missed his influence in the second half as they became more and more desperate to get out with the slimmest of victories.

After Duffy squandered his opportunity, however, Molloy eased the nerves of the Saints faithful when Mark Rutherford's flick found its way to him after the unfortunate Ger O'Brien mis-controlled. Molloy made no mistake as he calmly finished to put Pat's into the sixth final since their last Cup win all the way back in 1961.

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