A brilliant hat-trick from the prolific Ryan Manning ensured Mervue Utd's Youth side marched onto the quarter final of FAI Youth Cup after they defeated St Patricks Athletic 3-2 in Tallaght on Sunday afternoon.

Manning's goals in the 19th, 27th and 51st minute had Mervue 3-0 up as they completely out played the home side in the opening hour of the game which was played on the Scared Heart FC all weather pitch in Tallaght.

The home side pulled a deflected goal back just after the hour mark and eventually added a second with five minutes remaining for what was a nervous finish to the game.

Justin Neary and Colin Nolan's side were quick out of blocks as Luke Tully's well struck effort on just four minutes was well saved by St Pats keeper Patrick Reilly. Mervue almost took the lead seven minutes later when Dillon Murphy's ball released Ryan Manning through the centre and the striker lobbed the ball over the advancing Reilly only to see it crash back of the crossbar.

The opener did arrive shortly after that as the visitors continue to play good football and another Dillon Murphy ball found Moise Assogoba but as he raced towards goals the advancing Reilly took him down in the box with referee Matthew Farrell pointing to the spot and showing the keeper a straight red card.

The confident Ryan Manning dispatched the penalty into the corner despite the stand in keeper Stephen Murphy guessing the right side on 20 minutes. That lead was soon doubled as another flowing Mervue move ended with Richard Fahy heading the ball into the path of Manning who fired the ball low into the corner on 27 minutes for 2-0.

The home side did have a great chance to pull a goal back on 36 minutes but Peter Hopkins fired his effort badly wide from a great position in the box.

Mervue increased their lead to 3-0 six minutes after the break with the goal of the game. Manning picked up a ball on the right wing before cutting inside and weaving past three St Pats players and as they home defence stood off he looked up and fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

After this the home side began to throw everything forward in an effort to get back into the game and they were rewarded on the hour mark when Jack Cronin's shot was deflected past James Healy to reduce the deficit back to 3-1.

Mervue should have restored their three goal lead after that as they hit the home side on the break on a number of occasions. Dillon Murphy did well down the right before finding Manning who controlled the ball well but then saw his shot deflected away for a corner after 72 minutes.

Sub Antoine O'Laoi then did brilliantly down the left wing before pulling the ball back to Manning in front of goals but for once the striker missed the target as he fired over the crossbar two minutes later.

The home side thought they had pulled it back to 3-2 on 76 minutes when Marc Malone raced through and lobbed the advancing Healy but defender Padraig Keane produced a brilliant goal line clearance under the posts.

They did eventually get that second goal with just five minutes remaining when Hopkins got away down the right before firing an effort into the far corner past Healy to make for a very nervous finish.

But the Mervue defence held strong and led by the excellent Padraig Keane and Matty Flynn in the centre and midfielder Richard Fahy they defended anything the home side threw at them in the closing minutes.

St Pats did end the game with nine men as centre half Stephen Coughlan was shown red after he took his afternoon's frustrations out on Manning scything him down as the striker embarked on another attacking run.

Mervue Utd: James Healy; Eric Neary, John Rattigan, Padraig Keane, Matty Flynn; Moise Assogoba (Antoine O'Laoi  71), Luke Tully, Richard Fahy, Eoghan Walsh; Ryan Manning, Dillon Murphy.

St Patricks Athletic: Patrick Reilly, Stephen Murphy, Marc Malone, Stephen Coughlan, Ross McKenna;  Jack Cronin, Dylan Moore, Ian O'Brien, Peter Hopkins; Aaron Ramer, Michael Fitzsimons (Darran Harazi 73).

Referee: Matthew Farrell (Dublin)