St. Patrick’s Athletic advanced to the last eight of the EA Sports Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park. The sides failed to break the deadlock in the 120 minutes of action with Ryan Brennan’s penalty miss the d
St. Patrick’s Athletic advanced to the last eight of the EA Sports Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Bray Wanderers at Richmond Park.
The sides failed to break the deadlock in the 120 minutes of action with Ryan Brennan’s penalty miss the difference between the Premier Division rivals.
The sides lacked the intensity seen in their league meeting in February, with the sides cancelling each-other out for large periods.
The first half saw little goalmouth action, with both Peter Cherrie and Barry Murphy spectators for most of the half.
However, Darragh Markey almost gave Liam Buckley’s side the lead from the edge of the area, after pouncing on some poor Wanderers passing.
Josh O’Hanlon had the only other notable effort of the first half. Conan Byrne released him down the right only to see his effort from an acute angle rebound off the outside of the post. Conan Byrne, man-of-the-match in the 2016 EA Sports Cup Final, could have won the game in normal time.
He raced onto a long ball only to see Cherrie get a strong hand to his first time shot. Alex O’Hanlon, a second-half substitute had a rare opening in extra-time, his left footed effort was beaten away by the alert Cherrie. It took over 100 minutes for Barry Murphy to make a save.
He denied Aaron Greene with only seconds remaining after the winger had cut in from the right before being denied by the onrushing goalkeeper. Five successful spot kicks were to follow for the hosts, with Ryan Brennan’s wayward spot kick proving costly for Harry Kenny’s side. Graham Kelly sending Cherrie the wrong way to ensure his side safe passage into the last eight of the EA Sports Cup.
