Last-minute penalty earns Sporting Fingal Cup replay

Sporting Fingal 3 St. Patrick's Athletic 3

Colm James earned First Division promotion hopefuls Sporting Fingal a replay with a dramatic stoppage-time penalty in a thrilling FAI Ford Cup quarter-final at Morton Stadium tonight.

Having just had striker Robbie Doyle sent off for a challenge on Saints' Mark Quigley, Sporting were awarded a dubious penalty by referee Dave McKeon on 92 minutes when substitute Dinny Corcoran was tackled by Joe O'Cearuill and midfielder James confidently shot home the spot kick to force a rematch on a date to be confirmed.

Quigley, who limped off following Doyle's challenge, had earlier scored twice as St. Pat's had to come from 2-0 down.

Sporting stunned Saints to take a sixth-minute lead when poor defending by O'Cearuill saw Robbie Doyle set-up Peter Hynes to shoot home off the butt of a post.

Sporting doubled their lead on 18 minutes when further poor marking gifted Philip Byrne a free header to score from Conan Byrne's corner.

But Quigley led the revival on 35 minutes when curling a low drive to the net from out side the box.

Strike partner Gary O'Neill then won a penalty for handball against Chris Deans on 42 minutes with Quigley scoring emphatically from the spot.

Saints then went in front a minute before the break.

O'Neill threaded a superb ball through for the run of midfielder Gary Dempsey who skipped into the box to drill a shot to the far corner of the net.