Saints find progress a tough slog

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC overcame a compact nonleague Portmarnock and their challenging Paddy’s Hill pitch yesterday to progress into the second round of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup. Christy Fagan’s textbook header in stoppage-time at the end of the first-half broke the Leinster Senior League side’s resistance and the passage for St Pat’s was sealed by Gareth Whelan scoring an own-goal with two minutes remaining. For all the containment tactics adopted by Portmarnock and the frustration it caused their visitors, St Pat’s were the only side to pose real danger up front. Apart from a through-ball for David Sheppard which Jordi Balk cut out, Portmarnock failed to mount much of a comeback. Instead, they spent the latter stages under fierce pressure from St Pat’s. Fagan failed to capitalise after Kane spilled Conan Byrne’s cross while substitute Graham Kelly somehow volleyed wide at the back post after the goalkeeper misjudged another centre from Byrne. Liam Buckley’s dangerous winger Byrne did fashion a deserved goal two minutes from the end though by drilling a low delivery across the six-yard box which former Drogheda defender Whelan could only turn into his own net. PORTMARNOCK: Kane; Taylor, Whelan, Riches, Kenny; O’Riordan (O’Connor 55), Moran, McGinty (O’Shaughnessy 78) Powell; Whelehan, Sheppard (O’Leary 89). ST PATRICK’S ATH: Murphy; Barker, Balk, Desmond, Bermingham; Brennan, Garvan, O’Conor (Kelly 68); C Byrne, Fagan (K Byrne 84), Dennehy (Turner 89). Scorers for St Pat’s: (Fagan 45+1, Whelan o.g. 88). Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).