St Patricks Athletic landed the 2023 Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup with a 3-1 win over Bohemians.
A record attendance of 43,881 at the Aviva Stadium, witnessed Pats second cup win in three years, breaking the previous record held since 1945.
Jonathan Afolabi gave Bohemians the perfect start with an early opening goal but goals from Mark Doyle.
An own goal from Krystian Nowak and a late strike from second-half substitute Thomas Lonergan ensured that the Cup would to go to Inchicore.
Bohemians were awarded a penalty in the opening 10 minutes. Afolabi was taken down in the area under a challenge from Anthony Breslin.
The in-form striker sent goalkeeper, Dean Lyness the wrong way and slotted the ball to the bottom right-hand corner.
Afolabi had another sight on goal following a quickly taken corner. Afolabi effort went wide.
James Clarke was to have the next opportunity for Bohemians seeing his effort go over following some good work down the left wing from Danny Grant.
St. Pat's were level following a free-kick delivered into the Bohemians area by Jake Mulraney. Mark Doyle get ahead of his marker to nod the ball past goalkeeper James Talbot to level the tie.
Bohemians had an excellent chance to restore their lead with Dylan Connolly’s cross met by Grant only for Sam Curtis to put the ball behind for a corner.
Then, Chris Forrester had a chance late in the first-half for the Saints but his 40-yard effort just looped over the crossbar.
End to end action
The Saints took the lead for the first-time two minutes into the second-half. Mulraney the provider of a pinpoint cross towards Joe Redmond, but the final touch came off Krystian Nowak at the back post, seeing the ball steer past Talbot.
Jordan Flores forced an excellent save from Lyness. The Bohemians midfielder collected the ball on the outside of the box as his low effort was pushed around the post by the Saints keeper.
Doyle almost added a third for St. Pats in their next attack. Mulraney providing a cross that saw the ball loop over Doyle's head at the back post.
Afolabi had the chance to equalise following a move that started and ended with the Bohemians striker.
Grant linking-up with Afolabi in the build-up, but the striker struck his effort over. Adam McDonnell also had a shot from distance as his effort went wide of Lyness's goal.
Flores struck the post from a Bohemians free-kick from the edge of the area. Alex Nolan almost added his name to the scoresheet with a low-struck effort that took a deflection off Cian Byrne for a corner at the far post.
St Pat's made it three, five minutes from time as Thomas Lonergan got the better of Flores, finding himself one-on-one with Talbot, firing his effort home from the D to secure the FAI Cup.
Bohemians: Talbot; Kukulowicz, Nowak, Flores, Afolabi, Connolly, Grant (Coote 68), McManus (Kirk 51), Clarke, McDonnell (O’Sullivan 85), Byrne.
St. Patricks Athletic: Lyness; Breslin, Redmond, Lennon, Forrester (Murphy 68), Norman, Doyle (Melia 57), Carty (Lonergan 75), Leavy (Nolan 75), Mulraney (McClelland 68), Curtis.
Sports Direct Player of the Match: Jamie Lennon (St. Patricks Athletic)
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
