Saints march into semi-finals
Monday 26th March 2007, 11:37 pm
Alan Kirby (right) scored his first goal in the Setanta Cup.
Photo by Tom Carey.
26th March 2007
Setanta Sports Cup Group 2
St. Patrick's Athletic 5
Anthony Murphy 29
Mark Quigley 37
Sean O'Connor 46
Alan Kirby 56
Stephen Brennan 61
Dungannon Swifts 0
Richmond Park
Saint Patrick's Athletic - only added to the competition at the last minute - have become the first side to qualify for the semi-finals of this season's Setanta Sports Cup. They did so in emphatic circumstances tonight with a 5-0 win over Dungannon Swifts in Inchicore.
After starting brightly, the Saints had to wait until the 29th minute when Anthony Murphy netted his fourth goal in three games. Murphy blasted past the impressive Dwyane Nelson to break the deadlock.
Joseph Ndo had played a part in the opening goal and again his involvement helped create the second for Mark Quigley on 39 minutes. After Ndo had a shot blocked, Quigley pounced to fire home.
The Dungannon challenge was killed off in the opening minute of the second half. Sean O'Connor pounced on a loose ball before slotting home.
Alan Kirby netted his fifth goal of the season - all of them in the Setanta Cup - with a low 56th minute shot.
Stephen Brennan lashed home a stunning long range drive on 61 minutes to make it 5-0. In truth the Saints could have collected at least a couple more goals but the semi-final place is now secure.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Brennan, Frost, Maguire, C Foley, Kirby, M Quigley (Lynch 67), Murphy, S Quigley (Rooney 70), Ndo (Fitzpatrick 75), O'Connor.
Dungannon Swifts : Nelson, Wray, Gallagher, Montgomery, G Fitzpatrick, Scullion (Gibson 62), Fitzpatrick (Everaldo 77), McConkey, McGinn, McCluskey (McCabe), Baron.