St Patrick's Athletic Stuns Shamrock Rovers in FAI Cup Upset

Teenager Sam Rooney struck in extra-time as St Patrick's Athletic roared back from 2-0 down to dump Club Orange FAI Cup holders Shamrock Rovers out in a pulsating third-round tie at Richmond Park.

Rovers looked comfortable at the break. Jonathan Afolabi and Michael Noonan had them two up, clinical where the hosts were wasteful, despite St Pat's carving out the bulk of the chances in a frantic first half.

Second Half

The game turned after the interval. Luke Turner ignited the comeback, hauling the Saints back into it and lifting the noise around Inchicore. Rovers, who had seemed in control, suddenly found themselves hanging on.

The pressure finally told deep into stoppage time. A contentious penalty was awarded when Aidan Keena went down in the box, sparking furious protests from the holders. Keena stayed ice-cool, drilling home from the spot, with goalkeeper Ed McGinty getting a touch but agonisingly unable to keep it out.

Extra Time

Into extra-time, and the moment belonged to a 17-year-old. Early in the first period, Rooney arrived to finish what the fightback had started, his composed strike turning a remarkable recovery into a famous cup shock.

It was the last goal of a wild afternoon and capped a miserable week for Stephen Bradley's side, their grip on the cup finally broken under the Richmond Park floodlights.