Molloy makes sure of progress

SOCCER/Shamrock Rovers - 0 St Patricks Athletic - 2: When they won their 24th FAI Cup back in 1987 few people would have believed Shamrock Rovers would still be chasing victory number 25 in the competition a couple of decades later.

St Patrick's Athletic supporters, though, know a thing or two about cup frustration themselves and having arrived at Tolka Park looking to take another step towards ending a 45-year barren spell in the competition they departed celebrating after goals from Paul Keegan and Trevor Molloy carried them into this year's final.

"It wasn't nice and it wasn't pretty and Rovers were right there in it until Trevor made it safe with the second goal late on," remarked the winning side's manager, John McDonnell, after a rather grim and gritty contest in which the stronger side ultimately prevailed.

"But we ground out the result so now we can start talking about the final, I am delighted for the lads."

The win continued his side's late season resurgence, something he will be anxious to maintain between now and the first Sunday in December when either Sligo Rovers or Derry City will provide the opposition at Lansdowne Road.

A spell in which the Inchicore outfit managed just one goal in five games has been followed by one in which they've amassed 16 in six. And on this occasion, as in the comprehensive defeat of Longford Town in the last round, Molloy was his side's hero.

Rovers can have few complaints about the outcome for they had a long time to chase a one-goal deficit and managed to create precious little of any consequence. With 11 players ruled out for one reason or another and five enforced changes to the side that beat Athlone 10 days ago, they always seemed likely to struggle and Pat Scully is likely to find consolation in the character shown by some of younger players on what was a tough night.

The pace of the game was remarkable from the outset but while it was quick it could have done with a little more quality from two sides whose inability to retain possession contributed much to the frantic nature of the play.

Rovers worked hard and created the game's first real chance of note just four minutes in when Tadhg Purcell slipped a nicely weighted through ball in to the path of Pádraig Amond who, having taken it a little too wide, managed to hit the outside of the right-hand post with a fiercely struck drive.

With first-team regulars missing in every department, however, Rovers were short of experience and at times it showed in their lack of composure. The likes of Eric McGill, Ger O'Brien and particularly the team's captain, Aidan Price, all made valuable contributions in a game that was generally evenly balanced.

Where the Premier Division outfit had a vital edge was in the way in which they moved the ball about. What decent passing moves there were generally came from McDonnell's side in the opening period and they showed themselves to be far more capable of varying the nature and direction of their attacks.

Molloy, a supporter of Rovers and a favourite of their fans during his time there, proved an especially good outlet for his team-mates, with the striker chasing down every pass and either harrying opponents in possession or menacing them when he had the ball at his feet.

It was his strike partner, Keegan, who opened the scoring for the top-flight outfit a little over a quarter of an hour in. The former Bray Wanderers and Bohemians man held off then turned his marker well as he picked up Michael Foley's through ball on the right side of the area before shooting past Barry Murphy into the bottom left corner of the goal.

The goal prompted celebrations that nearly took the roof off the main stand where the visiting support were relishing what was only their second encounter of the year with their old rivals.

Last time out Rovers won a League Cup game at Richmond Park 2-0 but from the moment Keegan put his side ahead here there was a sense St Patrick's were on course for revenge.

Rovers certainly struggled to turn the greater amount of possession they enjoyed in the second half into clear-cut scoring chances. Jamie Duffy missed their best opportunity 17 minutes from time when he was quick to pounce on a poor back header to fire his hurried shot well wide of the target.

It was scrappy stuff by that stage and aside from Molloy's cool finish after Anto Murphy's cross and Chris Armstrong's downward header three minutes from time, only the passion and commitment shown by the two sides impressed during what remained of the game.

Unsurprisingly, the visiting support didn't seem to mind all that much. They had arrived in Drumcondra knowing their team's season might fizzle out in front of them. They left, after wild celebrations, savouring the prospect of a dream day out in early December.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Gannon, O'Brien, Price, Clarke; Duffy, Cassidy, McGill, O'Connor (Walsh, 81 mins); Amond (Vickery, 68 mins), Purcell.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Murphy, C Foley, Brennan, S Quigley; O'Connor (Armstrong, 70 mins), Mulcahy, M Foley, Rutherford; Keegan (M Quigley, half-time), Molloy (Fitzpatrick, 92 mins).

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).