St Patrick's Athletic win FAI Cup in front of record crowd

St Patrick's Athletic were crowned Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup champions for the second time in three years following a 3-1 victory over Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium.

The Super Saints had to come from behind in front of a record-breaking cup final crowd of 43,881 in Dublin 4 as they recovered from an early Jonathan Afolabi penalty to secure a third victory over Bohs this season.

They were level before the break thanks a Mark Doyle header, and they pushed on in the second half, showing a much more clinical edge than their northside rivals as an own goal and a Tommy Lonergan screamer settled the tie.

Jon Daly's men had the better record in clashes between the sides this season coming into the game, with two wins and a draw from their four meetings.

And Daly obviously felt that the side that had started in their most recent game - at Dalymount Park last month - could get the job done as he made just one change from that starting eleven.

His opposite number Declan Devine made four. Two were enforced, with Keith Buckley injured and Kacper Radowski suspended. Ali Coote and Paddy Kirk were dropped to the bench, with Jordan Flores, Danny Grant, James McManus and Cian Byrne all coming into the side.

A Cup final is one of the great occasions in Irish sport, but there was even more riding on it for Devine and Bohs with European qualification depending on a victory.

The game started, eventually, at a frantic pace.

A mix-up in the Pat's rearguard had Afolabi in down the right, but his low cross was cut out by Breslin. At the other end Breslin looked to pick out Carty at the back post, only for Nowak to get a crucial touch on the ball.

It was reflective of the end-to-end nature of the game at that stage, Breslin's next act would be to fell