FAI CUP QUARTER FINALS: Sporting Fingal 3 St Patrick's Athletic 3:COLM JAMES held his nerve to score a dramatic, 93rd minute penalty to earn First Division promotion hopefuls Sporting Fingal a replay in a thrilling cup-tie at Morton Stadium last night.
Having just had striker Robbie Doyle sent off for a challenge on Mark Quigley, Sporting were awarded a dubious penalty by referee Dave McKeon two minutes into stoppage time when substitute Dinny Corcoran was tackled by Joe O'Cearuill, and midfielder James confidently shot home the spot kick to force a rematch, to be played on the 26th.
Quigley, who limped off following Doyle's challenge and must be a doubt for their Uefa Cup trip to Hertha Berlin next week, had earlier scored twice as St Patrick's came from 2-0 down.
Presumably still reeling from the concession of the league title to Bohemians following Monday's 3-0 drubbing at Dalymount Park, a sluggish start by John McDonnell's side saw them in real trouble inside 18 minutes.
Sporting, unbeaten at home all season, and with just one defeat in their previous 14 games, found themselves in front after just six minutes.
Lazy defending by O'Cearuill saw him all too easily dispossessed by Doyle who set up Peter Hynes.
The big striker's low drive from 20 yards struck the inside of a post and bizarrely struck the legs of goalkeeper Barry Ryan and rolled back to trickle over the line.
St Patrick's then conceded a second goal on 18 minutes.
The marking from Conan Byrne's corner was neglectful and Philip Byrne stooped gleefully to head past Ryan.
A superbly flighted cross from Conan Byrne might have brought a third goal on 34 minutes, but Hynes just failed to get on the end.
The up-until-then bemused band of St Patrick's fans finally had something to cheer within a minute when their side levelled with their first shot on target.
Gary Dempsey pounced on a poor defensive header from Brian Gannon to set up Quigley who drilled a shot to the bottom left corner of Steve Williams' net from 25 yards.
That was the lift St Patrick's needed and they equalised on 42 minutes when O'Neill won a penalty for a handball off Chris Deans.
Quigley shot the spot kick past Williams, even though the goalkeeper dived the right way.
The comeback was complete a minute before the break when Sporting conceded a third. O'Neill picked out the run of Dempsey who raced into the box and fired a low shot across Williams.
Sporting twice came close to equalising in the second half with Fiachra McArdle shooting wide form Hynes' lay-off on 68 minutes before Doyle brought a tip over save from Ryan three minutes later.
St Patrick's should really have wrapped up their passage with the best chance of the second half on 76 minutes. Quigley put substitute Glen Fitzpatrick in on goal but the striker shot wide, before St Patrick's were stung at the death.
SPORTING FINGAL:Williams; Tyrrell, Deans, Philip Byrne, Gannon; C Byrne (Corcoran, 86 min), James, Caffrey (Crawford, 83 min), McArdle (Morrisroe, 67 min); R Doyle, Hynes.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Barry Ryan; Lynch, O'Cearuill, Harris, Byrne; Guy, Dempsey, Bialek, Kirby; O'Neill (Fitzpatrick, 72 min), Quigley (Partridge, 93 min).
Referee:Dave McKeon (Dublin).
