St Pat's out, Bohs with work to do

Setanta Sports Cup Review:St Patrick's Athletic, last year's beaten finalists, bowed out of the Setanta Sports Cup at the hands of Cliftonville, while Bohemians have work to do in their second leg to overcome a 2-1 deficit against Portadown.

St Pat’s went into tonight’s first round second leg trailing 3-0 from first leg but still had enough chances at Richmond Park to have the final say.

The home side were the dominant side for most of the first period and the pressure eventually paid off when Dave Mulcahy struck the opener in the 41st minute. A trademark Anto Murphy long throw was flicked on and Mulcahy kept his cool to hook home a volley from close range.

Pat’s, frustratingly, had to wait until the 80th for their second when David McMillan fired home after Cliftonville failed to clear their lines.

It was a frantic finish for the Irish league side but they held on to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

For Bohemians to book their place in the last eight they must travel north and overturn tonight’s defeat at Dalymount Park.

Kevin Braniff scored a wonderful opening goal for the visitors just before the break to offset a largely disjointed first half. He took a shot from almost 30 yards which struck the underside of the crossbar to put the visitors ahead.

Portadown went two up on the hour mark when Richard Lecky and Branniff linked up well before allowing Keith O’Hara to slot home in the bottom right corner.

Bohs pulled one back three minutes later when Anto Flood cut in from the right before setting up Karl Somers, who slotted home.

Pat Fenlon’s men have much work to do when the two sides meet again next Monday for the second leg.

Setanta Sports Cup

First Round first leg
Bohemians 1 Portadown 2

First Round second leg
St Patrick's Athletic 2 Cliftonville 0
(Cliftonville win 3-2 on aggregate)