Gormley strike sinks Dublin rivals
Setanta Sports Cup First Round Second Leg, Richmond Park, Dublin 20/2/2012 St. Patrick's Athletic vs Cliftonville St.Pat's Kenny Browne and Joe Gormley of Cliftonville Mandatory Credit �INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan *** Local Caption ***
CLIFTONVILLE booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup after knocking St Patrick’s Athletic out of the competition for the second year running, WRITES GARETH MAHER.
A single goal from Joe Gormley was the difference, although it was the dismissal of St Pat’s midfielder John Russell that proved to be the real turning point of this entertaining game.
St Pat’s should have been out of sight by half-time as Sean O’Connor, Greg Bolger, Chris Fagan and Russell all went close to getting that early goal that would have levelled the tie.
Bolger looked to have scored when he reacted quickly to Ryan Browne saving his initial shot on 10 minutes, but his header was cleared off the line by covering defender Ronan Scannell.
St Pat’s continued to pile the pressure on with Fagan crossing for Jake Kelly and Russell, who should have done better to convert both chances. And the attempts on goal kept coming.
Russell almost gave them the goal that their positive attacking play deserved when he unleashed a curling shot from the edge of the box on 17 minutes, but it struck the post.
Fagan then had a goal ruled out for offside as the frustration continued for the home team. Although, their manager, Liam Buckley, will have been pleased by their dominance.
For Cliftonville, it felt as though Tommy Breslin’s team were set up simply to contain their hosts. Stepping off, they invited pressure and were continually pushed backwards.
After the break, Cliftonville played with more purpose and Boyce set the travelling supporters’ hearts fluttering when he cut inside from the right and blasted a shot just wide.
Cliftonville played a lot better in the second half, although it wasn’t until Russell was given his marching orders on 65 minutes for a reckless lunge on Catney that they took control.
The goal arrived four minutes later when a free-kick from McMullan picked out O’Carroll, whose powerful header rebounded back off the crossbar and Gormley notched in the rebound.
ST PAT’S: Murphy; O’Brien, Flynn, Browne, Bermingham; Russell, Bolger, Chambers (Rossiter 89); O’Connor, Fagan (Daly 80), Kelly (O’Flynn 68).
Subs not used: Clarke, Kenna, Carroll, Meenan.
CLIFTONVILLE: Browne; R Scannell, Caldwell, McVeigh, Seydak; Boyce, McMullan, Catney, Templeton (Garrett 82); Gormley (C Scannell 82), O’Carroll (Donnelly 85).
Subs Not Used: Connolly, Johnston, Smyth, Clarke.
Referee: R Winters (Wicklow).
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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