Ryan pounces for winner

FAI CUP FOURTH ROUND REPLAY:St Patrick's Ath 1 Monaghan Utd 0 (After extra-time)

ST PATRICK’S Athletic booked their place in the FAI Ford Cup quarter-finals when an extra-time goal from winger Bobby Ryan earned them victory over a battling Monaghan United in last night’s fourth round replay at Richmond Park.

It was rough justice on First Division Monaghan who squandered a number of clearcut openings in the 90 minutes of normal time before Ryan pounced for the winner on 105 minutes.

So it is St Patrick’s who keep alive their hopes of winning the Cup for the first time since 1961 and now face Waterford United at the RSC next Saturday.

Monaghan had a chance after four minutes when winger Cathal O’Connor evaded the tackle of midfielder Alan Cawley only to see his 15-yard shot well saved by the Gary Rogers.

St Patrick’s did have chances when first striker Mark Quigley had a long-range effort just wide of the upright. Then Stuart Byrne opened up the visitors’ defence with a perfect ball to Quigley but this time his effort was well stopped by Aaron McCarey.

As they proved in the scoreless draw when the sides first met at Gortakeegan last month, Monaghan were no pushovers with a well-organised defence in which Brian Gartland played a starring role.

Winger Ryan Guy had one shot on the run well saved by McCarey early in the second half and the Inchicore men had another chance when Quigley headed wide after good work between Ryan and Damien Lynch.

Following sustained St Patrick’s pressure, Enda Stevens went close to breaking the deadlock on 67 minutes with a cracking shot from 25 yards brilliantly saved by the alert McCarey.

Monaghan wasted two glorious chances late in normal time to win the game when O’Connor took advantage of a mistake by Damien Lynch to power in an effort just deflected for a corner by Jason Gavin.

Then a low cross by Bermingham saw Alan Byrne’s rising shot from close range somehow touched away for another corner by Rogers. They were to rue those missed opportunities with the home side grabbing the lead in extra-time.

A long cross from the right by skipper Damien Lynch allowed winger Ryan to take the ball under control and shoot home at the near post from eight yards giving McCarey no chance.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Rogers; D Lynch, Gavin, Partridge, Stevens, Ryan , Cawley (Dempsey 70) , S Byrne, Guy; Quigley (Maher 103), Fitzpatrick (Leech 80).

MONAGHAN UNITED:McCarey; Whelan, Gartland, A Lynch (McMahon 37), Grimes; O'Connor, A Byrne, Tierney (Hanaphy 70), Clancy; Bermingham, Freeman.

Referee:Paul Tuite (Dublin).