Wasteful Pat’s denied at the death by McMullan

LAST year’s beaten Setanta Cup finalists St Pat’s bowed out at the first hurdle as they passed up more than enough chances to overturn a 3-0 first leg deficit at Richmond Park.

A David McMillan goal with 10 minutes remaining, to put them 2-0 up on the night, provided a grandstand finish, but Cliftonville held out to reach the quarter-finals.

George McMullan, who scored two of their goals in the first leg, proved the Cliftonville hero again with a dramatic goal-line clearance from Derek Doyle on 88 minutes.

St Pat’s began well and could have scored twice early on before the pressure on the visitors’ goal finally told on 41 minutes.

A trademark Anto Murphy long throw was flicked on and Dave Mulcahy scored with a terrific hooked volley.

Mulcahy then had the ball in the Cliftonville net again right on half time but it was ruled out for offside.

Despite the lift of taking that lead just before the break, St Pat’s struggled to build on their initiative until late in the second half.

Substitute Stephen Bradley’s pass opened the Cliftonville defence on the left and, when Derek Pender’s low cross wasn’t cleared, McMillan rifled home the loose ball.

But time was no longer on Saints’ side and the Belfast side held on to progress.

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender (Stewart 81), E McMillan, Kenna, Shortall; Murphy (Keegan 67), McFaul, Mulcahy (Bradley 56), Doyle; D McMillan, North.

CLIFTONVILLE: Connolly; Kane, Hutton, McVeigh, B Holland (Burns 15); Garrett, Johnston, McMullan, Seydak; O’Connor; M Holland (Donnelly 76).

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).