Dean Clarke's last-minute heroics was enough to earn St Patrick's Athletic a point as they held Cork City to a 1-1 draw at Turner's Cross on Friday night. Pats were dealt a blow in the 34th minute as David Webster was sent off following an off the
Cork City’s hopes of retaining the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title suffered a huge blow as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Pat’s at Turner’s Cross on Sunday evening.
Pats were the better team throughout the first half and they ought to have taken the lead after 34 minutes. Dean Clarke’s powerful shot from distance was parried by City goalkeeper Mark McNulty and into the path of Ryan Brennan but the attacker couldn’t direct his rebound into the net from a few yards. The Champions’ first strike in anger came at the end of the first period but following clever footwork to the right of the penalty area, Kieran Sadlier wildly blasted his shot over the bar.
Pats began the second period brightly and after Brennan sent a header straight at McNulty they finally beat the City number one to take the lead just shy of the hour mark. Achille Campion, making his debut for Pats on his return to the Cross, headed the ball into Clarke’s path and after his initial shot was saved by McNulty, he was on hand to turn in the rebound.
Pats ought to have doubled their lead but Byrne also spurned a decent opening with his head having been picked out in the middle by Clarke. And that miss would prove costly as Cork rescued a point late on when Josh O’Hanlon, previously of St Pats, headed Gearoid Morrissey’s cross into the top right corner of the net.
Cork join Dundalk at the top of the league but the race for the title is hugely in the Lilywhites’ favour now as they have two games in hand.
