Fahey delivers late rough justice

FAI Cup Third round/ Bray Wanderers 1 St Patrick's Athletic 2 : A dramatic winner in the third minute of added time by winger…

FAI Cup Third round/ Bray Wanderers 1 St Patrick's Athletic 2: A dramatic winner in the third minute of added time by winger Keith Fahey enabled St Patrick's Athletic to book their place in the FAI Cup quarter-finals after a tensely fought third-round tie against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

For last year's beaten finalists this was a welcome first win in seven competitive games and keeps the Inchicore men on target for a first cup success since 1961. But it was rough justice on Bray who had fought their way back into the game with a late equaliser from Clive Delaney.

Bray had an early chance when striker Stephen Fox provided a clever ball to Alan Cawley on the right. The midfielder then created the opening for Jay O'Shea only to shoot straight at goalkeeper Barry Ryan.

But St Patrick's responded in style and almost broke the deadlock on 12 minutes after a long ball out of defence by Dave Rogers found Joseph Ndo. His cross allowed Mark Quigley to slip the ball back to Fahey only for Steve Williams to brilliantly block the close-range effort.

READ MORE

However, Williams could no nothing to prevent John McDonnell's team grabbing the lead one minute later. A Michael Foley free from 25 yards deflected off the Bray wall to enable Mark Quigley to fire home from 12 yards.

And St Patrick's almost had a second goal on 37 minutes when Anto Murphy burst down the right. His low cross was sliced across the face of goal by defender Gray Cronin for a corner with the Bray defence all at sea. Less was seen of the home side as an attacking force although Gary McCabe did have one effort well taken by the diving Ryan.

Bray did have a chance of an equaliser on the hour only for central defender Delaney to nod the ball just wide of the far upright after a free by Alan Cawley on the left. Then substitute Emeka Omwubiko had an effort blocked in a crowded goalmouth.

Their second-half endeavours were rewarded as Bray equalised on 81 minutes when an Alan Cawley corner was headed goalwards by Delaney. The ball rebounded off defender Stephen Brennan only for Delaney to rifle a shot home from eight yards.

Winger Murphy was shown the red card for a second bookable offence on 84 minutes. Referee Anthony Buttimer initially allowed the player to stay on the pitch but eventually showed the red card when his fourth official pointed out Murphy had been booked in the 59th minute.

Then in the third minute of added time Fahey scored that sensational late winner for St Patrick's after the ground work had been done by Ndo on the left.

The winger fired in a shot from 15 yards which was wickedly deflected into the net past Williams to send the big Inchcore travelling support into a night of celebrations.

BRAY WANDERERS: Williams; Gough (Georgescu 77), Delaney, Deans, Cronin; Kavanagh, Cawley, Duggan (Hurley 64), McCabe (Omwubiko 55); Fox, O'Shea.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Gibson, Brennan, Paisley, Rogers; Fahey, Ndo. Foley (Murphy 20), Kirby (Guy 89); Quigley, Barker (O'Neill 69).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer(Cork).