ST PATRICK’S Athletic booked their place in the semi-finals of the FAI Cup for the third time in four years at Turner’s Cross last night, but they had to defend for long periods in the second half against a Cork City team that suffered defeat for just the second time this season.

It is 50 years since St Patrick’s last won the trophy, and although it is still a little premature to suggest that a possible feat can be achieved, they moved a big step closer with this win.

The only goal of the game arrived on the half hour mark as St Patrick’s top-scorer Danny North turned neatly before slotting a clinical effort into the left corner of the net past Cork goalkeeper James McCarthy after Saints captain Stephen Bradley had played him in.

Cork manager Tommy Dunne decided to leave top scorer Graham Cummins, as well as Davin O’Neill and Kalen Spillane on the bench, clearly with an eye on their vital league game with Waterford United on Tuesday night, as well as their EA Sports Cup final with Derry City next Saturday.

That meant Vinny Sullivan led the line and chances were few and far between for the home side as their best attempt of the early stages came when Ian Turner’s shot was cleared off the line by a scrambling Evan McMillan with Saints goalkeeper Gary Rogers beaten. After falling behind to North’s strike two minutes later, City finished the half with a couple of decent opportunities, Sullivan hitting the post with a header on the stroke of the interval.

The introduction of both Cummins and O’Neill early in the second period seemed to spur the home team on and O’Neill forced Rogers into a solid stop after 55 minutes.

St Patrick’s were severely under the cosh as the Leesiders threw everything forward, Gearóid Morrissey sending a couple of long range efforts wide.

City were denied an equaliser in injury time when Shane Duggan’s header was saved by Rogers, but the Inchicore side showed their greater composure by closing out the win.

Next Fixture

Derry City / April 22nd @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
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Team	Pld	Pts
Shelbourne	11	21
Bohemian FC	11	19
Shamrock Rovers	10	18
Derry City	11	16
St Patrick's Athletic	11	15
Galway United FC	10	14
Sligo Rovers	10	13
Waterford FC	11	13
Drogheda United	10	8
Dundalk	11	5