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- Saturday September 17th, 2016 @ 21:50
Christy Fagan Sparks St Pat's Second Half Revival Against Limerick To Retain EA Sports Cup
CHRISTY FAGAN sparked the St Pat's revival that saw the Dublin side retain their EA Sports Cup crown yesterday.
Former Saint Lee-J Lynch had given First Division champions Limerick an 18th-minute lead.
Lynch smashed Martin Russell's men in front with a 25-yard belter that gave Conor O'Malley, the only change in the Saints side, no chance.
The Shannonsiders looked the business at times in the first half but were ruthlessly swept aside after the break.
In 29 matches in all competitions before last night's decider at Markets Field, Limerick's only defeat, as it happened, had come at the hands of St Pat's.
That was a 2-0 reverse at Richmond Park in the FAI Cup last month, when Fagan and Conan Byrne got the goals.
Despite their early dominance, Limerick were completely outclassed for the remainder of the game as they struggled to cope with the threat of Byrne and Billy Dennehy on either flank.
Fagan's leveller was followed by THREE goals in the final SEVEN minutes as St Pat's showed their class. The pressure from the Saints was relentless as they looked to overturn Lynch's peach of an opener.
Byrne put St Pat's 2-1 up on 83 minutes and there was still time for Jamie McGrath and Graham Kelly to add to the dominant Dublin side's tally.
Limerick made one change from their 4-0 romp of Waterford United in the First Division a fortnight earlier when promotion back to the top flight was sealed.
Shaun Kelly came in for Shane Tracy, with Seán Russell being selected to operate at left-back.
Beginning at a blistering pace, Limerick went for the jugular right from the off. Lynch was the focal point of most of the home side's attacks with Aaron Greene, another former Saint, outside him causing Ger O'Brien problems.
Lynch had Limerick dreaming of a shock win.
He gained possession 30 yards from goal before taking a touch into space, then unleashed a rocket that flew past O'Malley.
The flight of the ball appeared to deceive the keeper, but there was no doubt that the hosts deserved their lead.
Yet the only chance they had after that fell to Chris Mulhall, their hat-trick hero against Waterford.
He went one-on-one with O'Malley but failed to convert. After that, the Saints took over. Byrne glided past Russell time and time again, but it was Billy Dennehy who provided the ammunition on 65 minutes.
His low cross found Fagan, who had peeled away to the back post. The striker had the easiest of finishes to level it up.
Byrne capped a great display with a memorable lead goal on 83 minutes. Ian Bermingham's cross from the left found him and he finished into the bottom corner.
Just after, Byrne looked up and saw the run of McGrath, who dinked the ball over Hall.
After Limerick lost possession, Hall raced Kelly towards goal.
But Kelly got the better of Hall and his finish on 92 minutes was superb.
