St Patrick's Athletic 2 Belgrove 0:ALAN COSGRAVE saved a first-minute penalty, but will scarcely want to remember his night down by the Camac for much else as Belgrove, the only non-league side to get this far, duly exited the cup.

St Patrick’s got the nerve-settling start they would have craved ahead of this hiding-to-nothing tie when Derek Doyle was tripped inside the Belgrove box by John Kerr after just 46 seconds.

But Cosgrave guessed right, diving full length to his left to push out Doyle’s spot kick.

But that was the only glory Cosgrave would enjoy as he was badly at fault for St Patrick’s lead goal on 26 minutes before contributing to their second just before half-time.

The lead came from nothing as Cosgrave failed to control Karl O’Brien’s back pass with the ball running to the alert Doyle who redeemed his earlier miss by tapping the loose ball to the net.

In the final minute of the half, a viciously struck shot from Ryan Guy was merely parried by Cosgrave and lurking left back Ian Bermingham scooped home the rebound.

The second half struggled to come to life.

St Patrick’s continued to enjoy all the possession, but manager Pete Mahon will not be happy they created so few scoring openings.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Guthrie (Lynch, 37 mins), Kenna, Bermingham; Cash (Stewart, 69 mins), O’Brien, S Byrne, D Doyle (North, 79 mins); Guy, Faherty.

BELGROVE: Cosgrave; Andrews, Duff, B Dawson, O’Brien; Kerr (Allen, half-time), Whelan, Cooling (Roe, half-time), Hickey (O‘Connell, 69 mins); Dowler, Ryan.

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).