Turner's sublime strike lifts Rovers

St Patrick's A 0 Shamrock Rovers 1:A SUBLIME goal by Chris Turner gave Shamrock Rovers' flagging season a massive lift, sending them through to next month's FAI Cup final against Sligo Rovers.

Sadly, however, the victory was tarnished at the final whistle by a pitch invasion by Rovers supporters which led to several fights with a lesser contingent of St Patrick’s fans for a number of minutes before stewards and gardaí restored order.

That was the unhappy epilogue to what had been a terrific atmosphere in a tight, packed ground, watching a game full of frantic passion, even if the action lacked a little finesse at times.

While a third win at the venue this season for Shamrock Rovers, it’s a damaging defeat in St Patrick’s all too promising season, as they now look like struggling to even make Europe via the league.

St Patrick’s quest for their self-dubbed Holy Grail of winning the cup will now stretch into the half-century at least.

While Turner’s goal deserved to win any game, St Patrick’s will argue that the sending off of captain Damian Lynch in the second half was the turning point in a match they had just shaded up to then.

Unlike in the first game, Pete Mahon wanted his St Patrick’s players to start well and pass the ball better. And they did precisely that within two minutes, creating the first opening when Ryan Guy fed Derek Doyle on the left, the winger cutting in to just get under his shot which was over the top.

There was an impetus about the home side, and a mistake by Rovers left-back Enda Stevens, who completely missed his kick, gifted a chance to David McAllister minutes later. Thankfully for Stevens the angle was such that Alan Mannus had a comfortable save from the low drive.

Rovers’ worked their way into the game, however. Billy Dennehy had Gray Rogers diving low to his left from distance before the visitors carved out the first real chance of the night on 21 minutes.

Thomas Stewart’s guile and turn of pace got him between McAllister and Derek Pender down the left. The low cross had too much on it for Gary Twigg with Dennehy stretching to toe wide at the far post.

There were intriguing battles around the pitch, none more so than in central midfield with Rovers’ Chris Turner and Stephen Rice up against Stuart Byrne and Dave Mulcahy. But there was precious little time or space, stifling any subtlety.

A surging run by Mulcahy reignited St Patrick’s challenge just past the half-hour. Guy perhaps jumped too early to meet the cross which he headed well wide.

Guy then just couldn’t get sufficient stretch to turn the ball home minutes later after Danny North had outpaced Aiden Price on the right to put over a tantalising, low cross that fizzed across the face of Mannus’ goal.

St Patrick’s finished the half as they started, on the front foot, Rovers pleased to see Lynch’s free-kick flash wide of a post with Mulcahy stretching in vain.

There was no let up to intensity of the game into the second half of a match that turned Rovers’ way after St Patrick’s were reduced to ten men on 53 minutes.

First, Rogers would produce an amazing, one-handed save to somehow scoop out Dessie Baker’s clever, looping header after Turner headed on Stewart’s cross.

A long ball from Rice, and Baker’s chested pass then gave Twigg a run at the St Patrick’s central defence. Lynch hauled the Rovers striker down just outside the box and received a straight red card.

Only the width of a post prevented further punishment as Baker’s free kick curled wide.

A superbly contrived and executed goal then won it for Rovers in the 70th minute. The best passing move of the match fittingly resulted in Turner, involved in the initial build-up, collecting Twigg’s lay off to hit a crisp right-footed drive to the far corner of Rogers’ net to secure Rovers a place in the final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, November 14.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Lynch, Kenna, Bermingham; McAllister, Mulcahy, Byrne (Stewart, 81 mins.), Doyle (Cash, 45+1 mins.); Guy, North (Faherty, 81 mins.).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Flynn (Bradley, 80 mins.), Sives, Price, Stevens; Dennehy, Rice, Turner, Stewart; Twigg, Baker (Fenn, 87 mins.).

Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).