St Pat's come from behind in epic final to claim FAI Cup

FAI CUP FINAL

BOHEMIANS…1 (Jonathan Afolabi 9) 

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC…3 (Mark Doyle 23, Krystian Nowak (OG) 47, Thomas Lonergan 86) 

After waiting 53 years to end their FAI Cup hoodoo, St Patrick’s Athletic claimed their third in nine years today by coming from behind to beat Bohemians before a record crowd.

Jonathan Afolabi continued his scoring streak by putting Bohemians ahead in the Dublin derby from a ninth-minute penalty but Mark Doyle headed in the equaliser on 23 minutes.

Saints were full value for their win, nudging ahead two minutes after the restart through an own-goal by Krystian Nowak from another teasing Jake Mulraney cross.

Although Afolabi blazed over and captain Jordan Flores struck the post with a free-kick as the Gypsies chased an equaliser to force extra-time, like the 2021 decider that was won on penalties, dallying around at the back cost them a third with three minutes left.

Substitute Thomas Lonergan gleefully punished them, breaking clear and finding the corner with a curler that James Talbot got a hand on but couldn’t keep out, Both teams were managed by coaches in their first season but Jon Daly has certainly overachieved having replaced his boss Tim Clancy in May.

He guaranteed European qualification by steering the team to third in the league and this victory means it’s Damien Duff’s Shelbourne – not Bohemians – who will join them in the Conference League next year and reap the financial benefits that accrue.

While the FAI declared the game a sell-out this morning, the official attendance was 43,881 – still sufficient to break a 78-year-old record.

BOHEMIANS: J Talbot; B Kukulowicz, K Nowak, C Byrne, J Flores; J McManus (P Kirk 52), A McDonnell (J O’Sullivan 85); D Connolly, J