St Pat's look home and dry after emphatic 4-1 win

St Patrick’s Athletic 4 Sligo Rovers 1

Ryan Guy scored a brilliant late goal to all but seal St Pat’s passage through to the final of the Setanta Sports Cup.

Paul Byrne headed home a cross from Guy to put St Pat’s in front after just nine minutes.

Pete Mahon’s side doubled that lead against the run of play on 37 minutes when Derek Pender threaded a sublime ball through for David McAllister to shoot past Ciaran Kelly.

Mark Doninger headed home at the back post a minute before the break to keep Sligo in the game.

But a quick Damian Lynch free kick released Gareth Coughlan to shoot St Pat’s 3-1 ahead five minutes into the second half.

Guy then sealed this first leg win, ahead of Saturday’s return, with a stunning 25-yard drive to the roof of the net on 85 minutes.

The winners meet either Bohemians or Linfield in the final on May 15.