FAI Cup: St Patrick's Athletic 2 Kildare County 1 Determined as Kildare were to avoid the fate of fellow First Division promotion hopefuls Dublin City on their visit to Inchicore in the last round, the initial signs for them were positive in last night's FAI Cup quarter-final at Richmond Park.

Unlike Dublin City, who were 3-0 down and out within 15 minutes, Kildare were tuned in to the action from the kick-off, or so it appeared.

An initial flurry brought them a couple of openings, but St Patrick's eased their way into the match to erase any hint of a potential shock and effectively end the game as a contest within 25 minutes.

Admirably, Kildare were not prepared to keep it tight and feel their way into the match. Eric Hannigan's side took the game to St Patrick's and almost got some joy on five minutes.

The dream start didn't materialise, though, as Barry O'Connor's finish was poor when he struck a feeble shot into the grateful arms of Chris Adamson after good work by Gareth Cronin out left.

If nothing tangible, it gave Kildare confidence, epitomised minutes later by Philip Hughes's audacious attempt to chip Adamson from over 40 yards. The same Hughes was ambition personified, even if it was only his 22nd birthday.

Kildare's encouraging start inevitably proved to be a false dawn, however, as St Patrick's speed of thought and foot cut through Kildare's defence to give them a 14th-minute lead and dampen that early spark.

That lead was doubled seven minutes later, and the task facing Kildare was all but put beyond them within a further three minutes when they were reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of Peter Rogers for a second yellow card.

Perhaps a little too cavalier going forward, the danger signs had slowly appeared at the other end as Kildare's defensive frailties had already been exposed by Gary McPhee and, in particular, Charles Mbabazi, who brought a confident save from 20-year-old Tadhg Murphy, before the lead arrived.

It was orchestrated by Mbabazi, who came in unchecked from the left to collect a loose ball and thread a pass through for the run of Tony Bird. The striker's form didn't desert him and he ran clear to find the bottom corner with a right-foot shot for his 15th goal of the season.

The next action, on 20 minutes, saw Rogers receive his first card for a challenge from behind on Paul Osam. Within a further minute Kildare were 2-0 down with a goal started and finished by right-sided midfielder Keith Dunne.

He back-heeled the ball to Bird, who was fortunate not to be penalised for barging into Cronin and knocking him over, preventing the County left-back following the run of Dunne.

There was no doubting Dunne's finish, though - he unleashed a powerful shot Murphy won't be pleased beat him at his near post.

Three minutes later Rogers ploughed into the back of Anthony Murphy and was sent off for his second bookable offence, leaving Kildare with little way back.

Commendably, the 10 men continued to play and almost got some joy three minutes before the interval, when O'Connor's downward header from Damien Brennan's cross came back off the upright. But any luck available wasn't going their way, exemplified when Hughes made room to turn and shoot against a post on 85 minutes.

They did get some late reward with a goal, captain Ben Whelehan left unmarked to head home Alan McNevin's cross, but, three minutes into stoppage time, it was mere consolation.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; Donnelly (Quigley, 50 mins), Prenderville, Maguire, El Khebyr; Dunne, Murphy, Osam, Mbabazi; McPhee (Freeman, h/t), Bird.

KILDARE COUNTY: Murphy; Brennan, Whelehan, R. Kenny, Cronin; McNevin, Rogers, Scully, Kelly; O'Connor (Ryan, 72 mins), Hughes.

Referee: A. Buttimer (Cork).