1 BURNS NIGHT

Smith sets Pat’s on their way to final before Darragh ices cake

DARRAGH BURNS was only 12 when St Pat’s last won the FAI Cup final in 2014.

At a rocking Richmond Park last night, teenager Burns’s late goal put the Saints back in the decider for the first time since.

His calm and composed chip over Peter Cherrie in the 85th minute followed a superb assist for Matty Smith’s thunderbolt that had put the hosts in the driving seat. Between them, Burns and Smith killed Dundalk’s attempt for a sensational seventh final appearance in a row. This defeat leaves the Lilywhites scrambling desperately for European qualification through the League now.

There was a pitch invasion from jubilant home supporters at the end of a pulsating night that had

Richer bursting to capacity for the first time in a long time. The crowd of approximately 5,000 was treated to a really open contest.

And while Will Patching was impressive for Dundalk – on loan Liverpool keeper Vitezslav Jaros denied him a spectacular goal to make it 2-2 – it was Burns who really grabbed the spotlight.

The first half ended in deadlock after an error apiece proved costly.

But, when the flares smoke drifted away and the game got underway, it was Dundalk who almost grabbed the lead in the opening seconds.

Patching started the move in his own half and almost finished it after Michael Duffy teed him up, but Jaros saved.

Dundalk continued in that vein having made a fast start, with Sean Murray looking threatening, though he wasted a good chance in the 19th minute when he was on the end of a free-flowing move, only to fire into the side-netting.

As the half progressed the hosts began to make an impact in on the right flank and Burns (inset) led the charge. He stretched the Lilywhites for the first time when he cut inside only to see his powerful shot blocked by Andy Boyle in the 26th minute.

Within 90 seconds, his team were ahead when

Greg Sloggett’s slip under pressure from Alfie Lewis handed possession to Billy King, who needed no invitation to advance to the edge of the box and shoot.

Peter Cherrie will be disappointed not to do better in the visitors’ goal but King’s low shot got through and the breakthrough was made. The buoyant King danced into acres of space just after the half hour mark and picked out Saints skipper Ian Bermingham, who took a touch and left fly but was just off-target. However Dundalk rubbed out their deficit five minutes from the break. Having defended well to that point, James Abankwah’s misjudgement opened the door for Patching and his perfect pass to Hoban was clinically dispatched.

Abankwah didn’t return for the second half – he was replaced by Jak Hickman – and the Saints survived a scare when Pat Hoban just couldn’t reach Darragh Leahy’s whipped cross.

Then Smith struck in the 56th minute. Dundalk lost possession in midfield and Burns was onto it, delivering the pass for Smith to lash a shot into the near top corner.

Dundalk pressed hard for the equaliser and Patching, from 35 yards, took aim, but Jaros was equal to a brilliant effort.

It was left to Ronan Coughlan to tee up Burns for the decisive goal.