WAYSIDE CELTIC 0 ST PATRICK'S ATH 3

THE one thing Wayside Celtic did not want to do at Belfield yesterday was to concede an early goal. But that's just what they did — after just three minutes.

And they fell behind arrears in the worst possible way as Colm Talbot, who afterwards proved to be their best player, pulled down Paul Campbell to give away a needless penalty. Ricky O'Flaherty scored with ease from the penalty spot to lay the base for a hat-trick which marched the Saints into the semi-finals.

From that moment on, Wayside were fighting an up-hill battle — and they seldom looked like reaching the summit.

"You cannot expect to give the potential League of Ireland champions a start like that and hope to beat them," said Wayside manager Peter Lennon afterwards.

"St Pat's are a superb side. We always knew it was going to be tough and giving away that penalty was the last thing we could afford to do."

Lennon was also critical of his defence's covering for St Pat's second goal, which arrived in the 26th minute. But whatever shortcomings the Leinster Senior League side may have had, there was no question about the merit of the St Patrick's victory and who was the Man of the Match.

O'Flaherty was superb throughout a game which was delayed for 13 minutes to allow the crowd of 3,500, who returned gate receipts of £6,080, to gain access. Any late-comers missed O'Flaherty's opening goal, but they were more than amply compensated with the strikes which enabled him complete his hat-trick.

His second came out of what seemed a hopeless cause. St Pat's defender Brian Morris-Roe had a dreadful shot which went across the face of the Wayside goal. The ball appeared to be going, wide hut Johnny Glynn got to it before it crossed the end-line and fired over a cross, from which O'Flaherty scored wilh the sweetest of flicked headers.

The third goal, which came three minutes into the second half, was even better. Indeed, it must be a contender for goal of the season.

Willie Burke took a throw-in to Glynn. He returned the ball to Burke and his cross was headed down by Paul Osam to O'Flaherty, who, with his back to goal, cracked the ball over his shoulder and into the net. It was a superb strike by any standards.

From then on, St Pat's were coasting and the game suffered as a consequence. But, there was a clear message here for those who feel the Saints don't have what it takes to win the League, much less the Cup.

They played brilliantly, granted against a team of lesser class. They have Osam back to his best, playing with confidence and aplomb and they introduced fit-again Eddie Gormley in the second half for his bit of first senior action in five weeks.

With strength like that in their ranks, it was no wonder that luckless Wayside were put through the wringer.

Although they were largely overwhelmed, Wayside had the odd chance. After 33 minutes,

John McDonnell was lucky to deflect a shot by Steve Martin for a corner and Martin should have done better in the 75th minute when he shot straight at goalkeeper Gareth Byrne.

Wayside's best chance came in the 77th minute, when a bad back-pass by McDonnell put his defence in trouble and Martin almost got into score.

St Pat's manager Brian Kerr was a happy man afterwards: "It's still nice lo be in there with a chance of winning the double. Matches like today's are the ones which can be most difficult if you don't do things properly. But I don't think we did too many things wrong today." Indeed.

Wayside Celtic

O'Dowd, Grimes, O'Douchon, Simpson, Mooney, Jackson, Martin, Talbot, F. Byrne, M. Byrne, P. Masterson.

Subs:

Gorraghty for F. Byrne (44), Walters for P. Masterson (57).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

G. Byrne, Burke, Carpenter, McDonnell, D. Campbell, Morris-Roe, Osam, Mernagh, P. Cambell, O'Flaherty, Glynn.

Subs:

McElligott for Burke (65), Gormley for Morris-Roe (70), J. Byrne for P. Campbell (77).

REFEREE:

J. Byrne (Dublin).

MAN OF THE MATCH: RICKY O’FLAHERTY