Substitute Tommy Lonergan was the late matchwinner at Finn Park as St Patrick’s Athletic staged a second half comeback to reach the FAI Cup semi-finals, overcoming a feisty Finn Harps.

Despite being deprived of Ryan Rainey and Noe Baba, both sitting out suspensions, Dave Rogers’ team went on to produce arguably the best forty-five minutes of his tenure in an opening half which, for once, had Harps fans leading the cheers.

In a bitty start in front of a full-out Finn Park, the reinstated Sean O’Donnell headed over early.

The best chance however, fell to away captain, Chris Forrester, whose low shot struck Rory Kelly’s post in a reprieve for Finn Harps.

How they capitalised as they went ahead, rarely, opening the scoring to a raucous reception.

Patrick Ferry led a rampant counterattack, the midfielder weighting a perfect pass into the pacy path of O’Donnell, who had timed his run peerlessly, his finish was also dispatched expertly, steering his shot superbly beyond away keeper, Dean Lyness.

Could the Cup-set be on?

Certainly, the First Division side had the bit between their teeth, Lyness excelling to tip over a rasping Caomhin Porter shot from the edge of the area, the netminder again aware to clear the corner as far as Ferry who fired a volley just past the post.

What the Premier Division side enjoyed in plenty of possession, they lacked in penetration as Harps posed a sizeable threat, evidenced five minutes before the break when Kelly fisted a corner clear, Tony McNamee aimed for the long diagonal and found the flying feet of Ferry, Joe Redmond marshalling his threat well. 

Set pieces were another home strength and Harps almost bungled a second goal, Anto Breslin to the rescue for Jon Daly’s men as Pats’ went off in search of some sorely-needed, second half answers.

A super Kelly stop to deny Jason McClelland aside, the Inchicore men hadn’t asked many questions of a Harps netminder who conceded four a week ago, perhaps Conor Carty’s early injury-enforced substitution had dramatically reduced Pats’ attacking apparatus.

An immediate response arrived though; Daly’s dressing room talk yielding the desired effect as Pats’ pressure led to Seamas Keogh fouling his man in the box.

Up stepped Forrester, the skipper steadying the ship with an excellently taken equaliser.

As the action proceeded, the cutting edge continued to elude both teams’ and although St Pats’ played the ball more, Harps were solid, brilliantly marshalled in defence by Matty Makinson and were nearly ahead with seventeen minutes remaining, a Flood firecracker fizzling just too high.

Stephen Doherty then drilled a sweetly struck left-footer just wide, the Donegal men pushing for a late winner.

Then, five minutes out from extra time, substitute Tommy Lonergan, on for Carty earlier, spun a tired marker devastatingly, the turn of pace buying him space to smash a scorcher past Kelly into the top corner.

Another fantastic Finn Park moment for the former UCD man again enjoying a late goal at this ground, having scored for UCD in the Premier Division last year, a goal confirming Harps’ relegation.

The late Cup drama sees the Inchicore side seal a semi-final spot, a date at the Aviva Stadium now not far away at all.  But, boy, did they have to work for it, here, Harps hoiking, hassling and superbly almost delivering the Cup-set of the quarterfinals!

Returns to league action are next week’s fixtures, Harps hoping to build on this performance, traveling to Cobh Ramblers to play at St Colman’s Park (7:45pm KO). 

Pats’ host Dundalk at Richmond Park at the same time next Friday, in a game which could have serious ramifications in the race for European qualification.