St. Patrick's Athletic 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
by Jamie Moore
Conan Byrne scored and got an assist at St. Pats kept up their defence of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup with this win over 24-time winners Shamrock Rovers.
Mikey Drennan missed an excellent chance to give Rovers the lead after just two minutes after Jason McGuinness' back-pass went straight to the Shamrock Rovers striker, but his shot ended up with the Hoops fans behind the goal rather than in the net.
Ryan Brennan missed the next chance as he headed Keith Fahey's cross wide before St. Pats created two good opportunities themselves.
Excellent play involving Lee Desmond and Chris Forrester set up Aaron Greene and his deep cross almost found Ian Bermingham at the back post, but Gavin Brennan was in the right place to clear it away for a corner.
St. Pats should have scored from the resulting corner, Killian Brennan's cross found Sean Hoare but his powerful shot was well blocked on the line.
Two goals in five minutes mid-way through the first half decided this game and Conan Byrne played a key role in both.
He opened the scoring on 32 minutes, latching onto Patrick Cregg's poor pass, he turned and dribbled before curling a low shot past Craig Hyland and into the bottom corner.
Byrne turned from scorer to provider five minutes later, his corner was headed in at the back post by former Shamrock Rovers defender Jason McGuinness, who actually celebrated a goal against a former club, unlike most other players who choose to show respect to their former clubs.
Rovers were much better in the second half and Brendan Clarke had to tip Drennan's header onto the crossbar after Simon Madden's cross.
The half-time substitutions of Kieran Marty Waters and Stephen McPhail for Ryan Brennan and Brandon Miele gave Rovers more of a spark but it was Pats who had the chance to make it 3-0 with a counter attack.
Ian Bermingham found Greene, who played a pass to Jamie McGrath, he returned the favour and sent Greene through on goal but Craig Hyland narrowed the angle well to save.
Rovers gave themselves hope with seven minutes left through another sub, Gary McCabe. He curled an unstoppable free kick into the top corner from the corner of the box but it was too little too late for Rovers as St. Pats hung on to keep their defence of the FAI Cup alive.
Hear from Managers Liam Buckley and Pat Fenlon and the match winner Jason McGuinness talking to 98FM's Jamie Moore below
St. Pats – Clarke; Desmond, Hoare, McGuinness, Bermingham; Chambers, Greene, K Brennan; Byrne (Langley, 78), Fagan (McGrath, 63), Forrester (McCormack, 81)
Shamrock Rovers – Hyland; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard, Byrne; Miele (KM Waters, 46), Cregg, R Brennan (McPhail, 46), G Brennan; Fahey (McCabe, 65); Drennan.
Ref Paul McLoughlin
