St Patrick's Athletic are through to their second FAI Cup final in three seasons after goals from Mark Doyle and Conor Carty helped Jon Daly’s team beat Cork City 2-0 at a sold-out Turner’s Cross.
The Saints had to do it the hard way after they took the lead in just the 11th minute at the Shed End.
Carty's first touch hit the roof of the net in the 81st minute and that rubber stamped St Pats’ place at the Aviva Stadium on 12 November.
The prize at stake emboldened a City that team was looking to play at the national stadium for the first time since the trophy laden John Caulfield years.
Richie Holland’s players rolled back the clock by forcing St Pat's deep into their own half when the game started.
Pat's lead early at Turners Cross. They had gone close moments before, but now Mark Doyle has given them the lead with a poacher's finish.#RTEsoccer #FAICup
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 8, 2023
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Once the Dubliners came through that spell; Doyle squared to Kian Leavy inside the area and his shot was blocked on the goal-line by Josh Honohan.
The Saints kept going and their next advance led to a throw-in on the right side of the pitch. They used that to set up Ryan McLaughlin and his cross was turned in by an onrushing Doyle.
City pushed up once the game restarted and Aaron Bolger played Ruairí Keating into space. The striker tried his luck from the edge of the area and he had to watch as the ball went inches wide.
Ben Worman and Cian Murphy also tried to score during this period; and the St Pat's defence dealt with their efforts by keeping to their positions and closing off any clear route to the goal.
This burst ended with Conor Drinan crossing to the back post and an off-balance Cian Bargary fumbled the ball out of play.
The second half started with Woman finding space and a tame shot from the midfielder went straight into Dean Lyness’ hands.
And that, surely, is that. What a finish from Conor Carthy on the half-volley. It's looking like an all-Dublin Cup final... 2-0 Pat's.#RTEsoccer #FAICup
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 8, 2023
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St Pat's won their first corner of the game in the 52nd minute and Thomas Lonergan headed over a Doyle cross after the set-piece had been cleared by the home side.
The Saints had their best spell of the game once the clock signalled that an hour had been played. This accumulated in Jamie Lennon seeing a shot go out for a goal-kick at the St Anne’s End.
Holland responded by bringing on Tunde Olowabi and Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh and switching to a 3-5-2 formation that had Cian Coleman playing behind two strikers.
The substitution that changed the game was Jason McClelland replacing Kian Leavy as his first touch led to a save from Ollie Byrne and Carty made it 2-0 with the loose ball.
Things petered out in extra-time as St Pat's counted down the seconds to the referee’s whistle confirming their place at the Aviva Stadium.
Cork City: Ollie Byrne; Cian Coleman, Aaron Bolger, Ruairi Keating, Cian Bargary, Conor Drinan (Tunde Olowabi 71), Ben Worman (Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh 71), Josh Honohan, Andrii Kravchuk (Barry Coffey 79), Cian Murphy (Malik Dijksteel 60), Josh Honohan.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Dean Lyness; Anthony Breslin, Joe Redmond, Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester (Thijs Timmermans 75), Thomas Lonergan (Conor Carty 67), David Norman, Mark Doyle, Kian Leavy (Jason McClelland 82), Jake Mulraney (Alex Nolan 81), Ryan McLaughlin (John-Alan McGrath 76).
Referee: Robert Harvey
Attendance: 6,335
