Possession proved pivotal for Pats at Richmond Park, as Finn Harps left it too late to get going in the Capital. The Saints dominated most of the possession and majority of the play, before powering to a 4-1 win.

Finn Harps will be disappointed not to have capitalised on a quieter than normal Pats side who appeared to be leggy from their previous outing during the opening stages. A brilliant goal from Ronan Coughlan saw the hosts leading at half-time.

Two quick two goals in the 62nd and 66th minutes by Benson, and Coughlan getting his second saw the Dublin side kill the game.

Harps never got to grips with the hosts having only got a consolation goal in the second half and with Pats snatching another goal from Alfie Lewis late on the visitors now face a long trip back to the North West

It was St.Pats who started the game the brightest with an effort early on headed just wide. The Dublin side held onto the ball and displayed great spells of passing but were just lacking that final killer instinct. 

The Saints high pressure and work rate led to Finn Harps playing long balls to their strikers with not much sticking to their boots. The intensity was mounting. Harps had the first main effort on target; a great strike from Ethan Boyle; which was matched with a brilliant save from Jaros in the St. Pats net. 

There were penalty claims from both sides. Harps were denied their penalty appeal as Pats struck from a wonderful strike from Ronan Coughlan in the 38th minute in off the crossbar. Finn Harps went in at the break 1-0 down and it soon got worse.

The opening stages of the second half was back and forth with not many attempts or any great spells of play. 

This changed after two quick fire goals from the Inchicore side. Benson scored from a cross from Coughlan in the 62nd minute and four minutes later Burns found Coughlan at the back post for his second of the night, the score now 3-0.

The Ballybofey outfit got on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute when Adam Foley rounded the Pats Keeper finishing nicely from a tight angle. The comeback was short lived as Chris Forrester brilliant pass found Alfie lewis and Lewis lobbed the keeper in some style with 85 minutes played. 

St Pats will be happy with their result having not been fully at it for the whole 90 minutes but it will be Finn Harps leaving worse off with nothing to show for their efforts