Limerick 37 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1ANTHONY COSTIGAN netted the only goal of the game as St Patrick's Athletic survived a first-half scare to advance to the next round of the FAI Cup at the expense of Limerick 37 at Jackman Park last night.
Costigan, a replacement for injured Saints captain Damian Lynch, rose highest in the 66th minute to head home Kyle Moran’s deep cross.
The hosts made most of the early running, former Arsenal youth Shane Tracey seeing his rising 30-yard free-kick from the right well held by Gary Rogers.
At the other end, Limerick goalkeeper Dave Ryan had to race off his line to cut out a cushioned header from Mark Quigley with Stuart Byrne arriving on the edge of the box.
However, Limerick were unlucky not to take the lead on 20 minutes when Mark Quigley lobbed Rogers but the ball bounced inside the six yard box and over the bar.
In the second half the home side refused to buckle and Tommy Barrett lifted a shot from the edge of the box over the bar.
However, the visitors almost sealed the win with nine minutes remaining when Ryan Guy headed a cross from Stevens off the base of the post.
LIMERICK FC: Ryan, Daly, Deady, O’Callaghan, Wunsch, Barrett, Walsh (Tierney 70) Hughes (Colbert 55) Scanlon, Treacy, Ryan.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers, Haverty, Stevens, Partridge, Lynch inj (Costigan 45), Guy, Ryan, Lester, Quigley, Byrne, Moran (Fitzpatrick 71).
Referee: G Kelly (Cork).
