St Patricks Ath  (0) 1  - North pen. 87'    
Rovers (0) 1 - Kelly pen. 58' 
          
After Extra Time - St Patricks win 3-1 on penalties
 

EA Sports Cup - Richmond Park - Monday 25th April 2011 

Hoops Line out
1 Ryan Thompson
2 Mick Doyle
3 Jack Memery
4 Sean Gannon
13 Pat Fynn (c)
15 Paddy Kavanagh 
22 Conor McCormack
10 Sean Byrne
8 Colm Corcoran 
11 Ciaran Kilduff
14 Dean Kelly

 Substitutes:    
5 Jack Flood
for Doyle 59'
1 Robert Hughes
6 Eoin Murray
9 Darragh Satelle
for Kavanagh 84' 
18 Keith Kinsella
19 Paul Connolly
for Byrne 98'
 

Ryan Thompson

Rovers were knocked out of the EA Sports Cup this afternoon in a penalty shoot-out after a competitive game in Richmond Park. A late Danny North penalty cancelled out Dean Kelly's earlier spot-kick.

The Hoops started with just two of the players that started against UCD on Friday and the players put on a good performance on a dull Bank Holiday afternoon.

St Pats had an early chance when O'Brien headed over from close range but good work from Ciaran Kilduff won two corners and in the 9th minute Dean Kelly found himself in fron of goal and his first touch took the ball away from goal but he managed to hook his shot just over the bar.

Pat Flynn, Captain for the day, did well to clear the ball off the line after David McMillan got a touch in front of Thompson. The Hoops 'keeper got down low to save Keegan's effort on 16 mins and at the other end Sean Gannon saw his deflected shot go just wide of Bennion's goal.

On 24 mins a great run from Kavanagh saw him made room to shoot from the edge of the box but he was denied by a fine save from Bennion. The home side finished the half with David McMillan shooting just over the bar.

Rovers started the second-half brightly with Kavanagh and then McCormack sending in dangerous crosses that were well defended. Bradley set up Stewart on the right on 54 mins but Thompson was well placed to save.

Conor McCormack tried his luck from distance on 55 mins and Bennion had to dive to his right to save. St Pats threatened a minute later when Keegan crossed for McMillan to head on goal but Thompson saved.

Rovers pushed forward again and Kilduff ran on to a ball in the box and Bennion advanced and bundled him over and the Ref. pointed to the spot. Dean Kelly stepped up to fire past the home 'keeper to give the Hoops the lead.

Rovers were on top and when Byrne's shot was blocked Paddy Kavanagh followed up to shoot just over. Jack Flood was defending well having entered the fray on 59 mins but he miss-kicked a clearance on 67 mins but luckily the Pats attacker tried to lob Thompson and his effort was poor.

The home side kept up the pressure and Thompson did well to punch away the ball as the Rovers defence struggled to clear and on 77 mins a Bradley free-kick was headed across goal but fortunately was cleared.

In the 80th minute Bennion saved Kilduff's low shot and when Keegan fired over the bar when well placed on 86 mins it looked like the Hoops would keep the Saints scoreless however Rovers lost possession from a free-kick due to an offside decision and the ball was played to North who raced into the area and tumbled over Flood's tackle.

The Ref. pointed to the spot and North equalised to send the game into extra-time.

The first period of extra-time saw Gannon fire in two corners but Kilduff and Kelly saw their headers cleared. The first 15 mins finished with Bradley getting two free-kicks just outside the box and his first went inches over and Thompson saved his second attempt.

The second period was three minutes old when Kilduff was sent in on goal and although his first touch took him away from goal he still got a shot in that Bennion did well to save.

As the players tired the chances dried up but Thompson was quick off his line to deny Flood while the Hoops forced two late corners. The last action saw North shoot on goal but Thompson dived to his left to push the ball away.

The hangover from the FAI Cup final penalty shoot-out was evident as Kilduff, Flynn and Corcoran missed the first three penalties. Thompson saved North's second penalty but Pats converted two to take a two-nil lead with two penalties remaining.

Conor McCormack finally broke the penalty shoot-out hoodoo to give Rovers some hope but defender McMillan stepped up to score to give Pats a 3-1 win.