Phoenix burnt by Maguire's strike

FAI Cup Second round/ Phoenix 0 St Patrick's Athletic 4 : They may have laboured a little early in the second half, but once…

FAI Cup Second round/ Phoenix 0 St Patrick's Athletic 4: They may have laboured a little early in the second half, but once Darragh Maguire added their second goal, St Patrick's Athletic eased through to the third round against the honest endeavour of Leinster Senior League side Phoenix.

Having totally dominated the first half, John McDonnell's side appeared to have eased off in the second half until central defender Maguire doubled his side's advantage on 70 minutes with a sublime side-footer from 10 yards from Alan Kirby's low cross from the left.

Kirby then added the third goal on 84 minutes when scooping home the rebound after Phoenix goalkeeper Vladimir Munteanu could only parry a stinging shot from substitute Kevin Cornwall.

Phoenix had just wasted their best chance of the night when captain Glen Campbell, put in on goal from Stephen Brennan's poor back header, shot against the feet of Barry Ryan.

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Cornwall then put the gloss on St Patrick's win on 89 minutes when tapping home from Gary O'Neill's cross.

Munteanu was, not surprisingly, a busy man, making brave saves with his feet from Gary O'Neill and Dave Mulcahy before he could do little as St Patrick's took a 16th minute lead.

Keith Fahey orchestrated the goal, working a one-two with Michael Foley before a slalom past several defenders brought him clean through. The ball was sidefooted past Munteanu to give Mark Quigley the simplest finish of his 11 goals this season.

PHOENIX FC: Munteanu; Hanley, Murray, Dennan, Vasasour (Philips, 71 mins); Campbell, Hennessy (Daly, 78 mins), Kenny, Giffney; Christie, Cummins (Morrisroe, 71 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Murphy, Maguire, Paisley, Brennan; Fahey, Mulcahy, M Foley (Frost, half-time), Kirby; O'Neill (Cornwall, 83 mins), M Quigley.

Referee: D Hanney(Dublin).