Youthful Saints beat Rovers to reach final

Shamrock Rovers 1 St Patick's Athletic 3

Jamie McGrath celebrates. Photo: Sportsfile

St Patrick's Athletic marched on to their second successive EA Sports Cup final with a 3-1 semi-final victory over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium last night.

Goals from Darren Dennehy, Jamie McGrath and Christy Fagan ensured they will contest next month's final with First Division leaders Limerick.

Pats were without midfield mainstays Keith Treacy and David Cawley due to injury and gave rare starts to goalkeeper Conor O'Malley and Rory Feely in defence.

However, it was the home side who opened the scoring when Dean Clarke found himself beyond the last line of the Saints defence as he finished past O'Malley.

However, St Pat's levelled matters near to half-time when Mark Timlin swung in a peach of a corner at the far post which Darren Dennehy headed in off the post.

The visitors then stormed into the lead on 57 minutes when 19-year-old striker McGrath cauled a wonderful effort into the top corner of the Rovers net.

Rovers pushed on in search of the equalizer with chances coming for Brandon Miele and substitute Gary Shaw in-between two calls for a penalty, first from Dean Clarke which went unheard from referee David McKeown before Sean Boyd too went down inside the area only for the referee to deem it simulation.

But St Pat's added a third in the 80th minute when striker Christy Fagan rounded Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal to seal the win.