Shelbourne refuse to yield in replay thriller

McCarthy the hero as late goal denies Pat's

Shelbourne 1
St. Patrick's Athletic 1
(after extra-time)
by Charlie Stuart
SHELBOURNE and St. Patrick's Athletic will have to fight it out all over again for the right to meet Finn Harps in the FAI Cup semi-final after last night's absorbing draw at Tolka Park.
Even 30 minutes extra-time could not separate the sides in a thrilling quarter-final replay at Tolka Park. The country's two top teams will be sick of sight of each other as they are already scheduled to meet again on Friday night in the top of the table Premier Division clash at Richmond Park.
Shelbourne won the toss for the right to host the third cup meeting of the sides and this game will now take place at Tolka Park on either March 16 or March 17.
In a contest brimming with passion, excitement and drama Shelbourne came back from the dead when Tony McCarthy sent home a looping header in the 88th minute which cancelled out Leon Braithwaite's opener for St. Pat's in the 65th minute.
The hopes of a League and Cup double stay alive for both teams. There could be no complaints from the 7,000 crowd who will again turn out in huge numbers for the next two meetings between these old Dublin rivals. It was a contest which rivalled last Friday's exciting televised 2-2 draw at Richmond Park last Friday.
The Inchicore men suffered an early setback after an accidental collision between Willie Burke and Shels winger Mark Rutherford. The St. Pat's defender suffered a head injury and was later taken to hospital suffering from concussion.
St. Pat's went close after 12 minutes when a Dessie Baker cross enabled Pat Fenlon to get in a glancing header pushed round the post by Man of the Match Trevor Wood in the St. Pat's goal.
Braithwaite was causing the Shels' defence problems and twice went close only to be denied by a timely interception by veteran Mick Neville and then a fine save by goalkeeper Alan Gough.
It was the safe handling of Gough which prevented St. Pat's breaking the deadlock on the half hour. Keith Doyle played a clever ball down the left which allowed Martin Reilly to whip in a cross grabbed by the keeper with big Scottish striker Ian Gilzean just inches away from opening St. Pat's account.
Then, as play swept in dramatic fashion from end to end, Shelbourne almost grabbed the lead just before the interval following a weak headed clearance by Colin Hawkins. Pat Fenlon let fly with a first time effort from 25 yards that was just inches wide of the upright.
Thomas Morgan, outstanding in the St. Pat's midfield, then produced a glorious long ball for Braithwaite to sprint down the right. His perfect cross enabled Gilzean to get in a close range effort that was just over the bar.
St. Pat's were dominating at that early stage in the second-half when first Martin Reilly shot just wide and then Braithwaite and Gilzean got in each other's way when a goal looked on the cards for the visitors.
However, the Inchicore were not to be denied although there was more than a touch of controversy when Braithwaite hit the target in the 56th minute.
Keith Doyle's cross from the left was missed by Gough under a challenge from Gilzean and former Exeter City man Braithwaite, unmarked at the far post, was able to steer the ball home to the delight of the St. Pat's supporters.
It appeared to be a last throw of the dice when Shels' boss Damien Richardson introduced late substitutes Dean Fitzgerald and Tony Sheridan.
That was the signal for an all out onslaught by the Tolka Park men in search of an equaliser. Greg Costello had one 30 yard free-kick brilliantly pushed away by Wood and then the subdued Stephen Geoghegan shot over when well placed.
But Shelbourne were fully deserving of their equaliser in the 88th minute when a Rutherford cross from the left allowed McCarthy to send a header into the far corner of the net following indecision for once by Wood.
Shelbourne had the better of the 30 minutes extra-time with Geoghegan again going close and Pakie Lynch relieved to scoop the ball over his own bar when it seemed the home side would press home their advantage. Rutherford got in the act as well when his drive from 16 yards was grabbed at the second attempt by Wood after McCarthy had another header blocked on the line.
Geoghegan, normally so clinical a finisher, should have booked Shelbourne their semi final place in the 107th minute. A Hawkins error allowed Fitzgerald to put Geoghegan through on his own. But, with the goal at his mercy, the Shels striker delayed and Wood again produced heroics to grab the ball from the feet of the incoming target man.
SHELBOURNE: Gough; Costello, McCarthy, Neville, Smith; Baker, D. Campbell, Fenlon, Rutherford; Kelly, S. Geoghegan. Subs: Fitzgerald for Baker (76), Sheridan for D. Campbell (76).
ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Wood; Burke, Lynch, Hawkins, Doyle; Crolly, Morgan, Gormley, Reilly; Braithwaite, Gilzean. Subs: P. Campbell for Burke (9), Molloy for Gilzean (105), Devereux for Morgan (105).
Referee: Hugh Byrne (Dublin).

Rangers lack the spark to overcome Dundee's challenge

Rangers 0
Dundee 0
by Simon Buckland
RANGERS remain in the Scottish Cup but their fading power was again exposed as they lacked the spark to overcome first division leaders Dundee at Ibrox.
A goalless draw seemed the inevitable outcome from an early stage of a quarter-final which struggled for life throughout and embodied Rangers' troubled season.
Naturally, Dundee deserve credit for taking their unbeaten league away record to Scottish football's toughest venue and earning a replay on March 17. But for all their efforts the night was about Rangers. Walter Smith steps down at the end of the season and increasingly there is a sense that Dick Advocaat's arrival cannot come soon enough.
Marco Negri and Jonatan Johansson each had fine second-half chances to have won the game, but the recurrent theme of the contest was Rangers' lack of invention.
Their start could hardly have been brighter though, Jorg Albertz weaving a low pass to Negri whose snap shot struck the crossbar before rebounding to safety after three minutes.
It might have prompted further attacks, but instead it seemed to provoke only apathy - Rangers failed to threaten as seriously for the remainder of the opening half.
Johansson was enduring a difficult start miskicking badly when Albertz found him in time and space after five minutes and never quite recovering his confidence.
As ever with a player looking to blend in, every subsequent chance seemed to go his way and he again should have done better with a glancing header from a Jonas Thern cross after 18 minutes.
Dundee were hardly posing a threat however and their first effort at goal was a looping James Grady 25-yard shot which cleared the crossbar.
Rangers' response was immediate, Albertz unleashing a typically powerful, swerving drive spilled by keeper Rob Douglas who was relieved to see his defender Barry Smith first to the rebound.
After 27 minutes came the main talking point before the break as Rangers claimed Robert Raeside impeded Negri in the area, but their penalty appeals were rejected.
A speculative Thern drive summed up Rangers' lack of craft before the break and they suffered the blow of Sergio Porrini limping off to be replaced by Craig Moore after 43 minutes.
Negri forced Douglas into a diving save in the closing minute of the half but the keeper was really to come to prominence after the restart.
Raeside went close for Dundee after 48 minutes, though Goram had the half-volley well covered as it went narrowly wide.
After 55 minutes, Johansson did well to manage a shot at all from an overplayed McCall pass, and visiting keeper Douglas had to be alert to the strike. But on the hour mark, Johansson sent a free header over the bar from a precise Albertz cross which proved the signal for the home support to turn on their team.
An injury to Thern, enabled Sebastian Rozental to enter the fray to add attacking options to a Rangers team badly lacking them.
With nine minutes remaining a superb reaction save from Douglas denied a clean through Negri. Then, in the 89th minute, the Dundee keeper kept out a sharp header from Rozental and Dundee's job was done.
RANGERS: Goram, Cleland, Albertz, Petric, Porrini (Moore 42), Bjorklund, Thern (Rozental 78), McCall, Negri, Ferguson, Johansson (McCoist 81).
DUNDEE: Douglas, Smith, Raeside, Adamczuk, Irvine, Rogers, Maddison, Magee (Anderson 72), Annand (McCormick 84), Grady, McInally.

• Scottish League Div 3:
Cowdenbeath 0 East Stirling 1.

Doherty coasts into last 16 of Thailand Masters

KEN DOHERTY coasted into the last 16 of the £280,000 Thailand Masters in Bangkok yesterday.
The world champion was detained for only 66 minutes as he trounced Romford left-hander Mark King 5-0 with a succession of sizeable breaks.
Doherty now meets local hero, James Wattana, who reached the second round with a 5-1 victory over Northern Ireland's Joe Swail.
Alan McManus will tackle Ronnie O'Sullivan for a quarter-final place after scraping through 5-4 against Jon Birch. O'Sullivan needed just 73 minutes to beat David Gray 5-1.
Veteran Steve Davis had a comfortable 5-1 win over Steve James, while Tony Drago, a 5-1 conqueror of Preston's Stuart Pettman, provides the next opposition for Stephen Hendry.

Munster Schools' rugby tie off

THE Coca Cola Munster Schools' Senior Cup semi-final between Ard Scoil Rís and CBC has been postponed for the third time.
The match was fixed for this afternoon at Thomond Park but has now been deferred until tomorrow and will not be played at the North Munster headquarters. An alternative venue will be announced today.

Allen unveils Council proposal

FORMER Minister for Sport, Bernard Allen, will today take a first step towards making the Sports Council he established into an independent and statutory stand-alone body.
Mr. Allen will reveal the terms of a private members' bill designed to give the Sports Council the same autonomy as the Arts Council.

Collymore meets with Harkness

STAN COLLYMORE and Steve Harkness met in a private face-to-face showdown last night but still could not resolve their differences.
Aston Villa star Collymore accused his former Liverpool team mate of racial abuse when the side's met at Villa Park earlier this month.
After a four-hour meeting at the Professional Footballers' Association headquarters, neither would climb down on their version of events but they did agree to call a truce in the bitter war of words between them.

Thompson gets Sheffield job

A dream came true for Steve Thompson yesterday when he took over as manager of Sheffield United.
Thompson was in charge of the team for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final draw against Coventry, and the Bramall Lane board have now offered him the post for the rest of the season.

Three join list of soccer legends

FORMER Sligo Rovers striker Johnny Armstrong, Limerick star Al Finnucane and Shamrock Rovers winger Frank O'Neill were yesterday added to the list of Opel Soccer Legends.
Scottish-born Armstrong joined Sligo in 1951 and scored 85 League goals in 13 years.
Finnucane played over four decades winning 11 caps for Ireland and was a Cup winner with both Limerick and Waterford.
O'Neill amassed a total of 20 international caps - the most by any League of Ireland player in history.

Cork sides in final

THE inaugural Under-13 Munster schools' soccer final will be played today at Ballyphehane at 2 pm when two Cork teams will be in opposition.
Deerpark CBS will meet St. Aidan's Community College of Dublin Hill.

Spencer on move

JOHN SPENCER stepped out of the QPR shadows yesterday and straight back into the Premiership and a month's loan to Everton.
He could find himself at Goodison Park for the rest of the season, with QPR prepared to extend the loan beyond a month.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield Town manager Peter Jackson is set to swoop for unsettled Arsenal striker Chris Kiwomya.
Huddersfield-born Kiwomya 28, cost Arsenal £1·5m from Portman Road three years ago but found his first team opportunities at Highbury limited.

Tonight's soccer

Nationwide Football League
Division One:
Sunderland v Birmingham.
Division Two:
Bristol Rovers v York.
Division Three:
Darlington v Shrewsbury,
Doncaster v Scarborough.
Auto Windscreens Shield:
Grimsby v Burnley,
Walsall v Bournemouth.