St Pat's earn a second chance

St Patrick's Athletic 2 Galway United 2FAI CUP/Second round: St Patrick's Athletic came from two goals down to earn a second bite of the cherry and keep alive their FAI Carlsberg Cup ambitions.

Trailing by two goals to nil, Pat Dolan's side got their act together at Richmond Park last night and now head for Terryland Park on Wednesday night for the second round replay.

But such an outcome certainly didn't look likely when after just 15 minutes of play they trailed 2-0, only for goals from Martin Russell (17 minutes) and Paul Osam (65 minutes) to keep those cup aspirations firmly on track.

Rank outsiders prior to the game, Galway United couldn't have asked for a better start as they claimed that dramatic two-goal advantage and all that inside the opening quarter of an hour.

As it happened, they could have been behind after just 90 seconds, but Russell's curving free kick drifted just wide of the post.

However, Tony Mannion's side took the lead after just three minutes. Alan Murphy was a little unlucky to see his long-range free come back off the upright, but Mark Herrick - returning to the side after suspension - was first to react to side-foot the ball home to an empty net.

And life got even better on 15 minutes when the visitors doubled their advantage as Declan Sheridan headed home a Colin Fortune corner.

However, the two-goal cushion was wiped out almost immediately as the Saints immediately found a way back into the game.

United 'keeper Robbie Forde rushed off his line and fouled the inrushing Ger McCarthy, conceding a penalty, which was duly dispatched by Russell.

It was just the boost the home side needed and they upped the tempo from then on and before the break it was Forde that kept them at bay with good saves from Philip Hughes and, in particular, Willie Burke. In fairness to Galway, Sheridan should have restored their two-goal advantage after 34 minutes but blazed over from close range.

The one-way traffic continued after the restart and the pressure finally paid off for the home side in the 65th minute when Osam headed home a Paul Donnelly corner for the equaliser.

Five minutes later Russell must have thought he had grabbed the winner but once again United 'keeper Forde produced a stunning save as he fingertipped over the 30-yard free kick. Also, in the final minute of normal time, Darragh Maguire's shot was cleared off the line.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Kelly; Croly, Burke, Donnelly, Maguire, Foley, Osam, Russell, McCarthy, Hughes, Bird. Subs: Holt for Burke (60), McGuinness for Hughes (77)

GALWAY UNITED: Forde; Keady, Quirke, Brennan, Sheridan, Fortune, Murphy, Herrick, Goldby, Folan, O'Brien. Subs: Harty for Sheridan (69), O'Shaughnessy for Goldby (85).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).