Cork City weathered a St. Patrick’s Athletic storm on a fine Friday evening in Inchicore to escape with an impressive 3-1 victory and keep hot on the heels of league leaders Dundalk. The champions went ahead before giving their opposition as much a
Cork City weathered a St. Patrick’s Athletic storm on a fine Friday evening in Inchicore to escape with an impressive 3-1 victory and keep hot on the heels of league leaders Dundalk.
The champions went ahead before giving their opposition as much as a touch. Straight from kick-off they looked to put pressure on Pats and Conor McCormack picked out Kieran Sadlier on the left wing who, as he arrived into the box, was fouled resulting in a penalty within 13 seconds.
Sadlier himself stepped up to the spot and made no mistake as he drove his strike into Tyson Farago’s bottom right corner. From then it was the hosts who largely dominated the half, though admittedly never looked like they were causing too many problems for Cork.
Saints played their usual short-passing game but City stood firm at the back and limited Liam Buckley’s side to a handful of efforts from range and trying to pick out crosses. The game opened up a little towards the end of the half and Karl Sheppard probably should have made it two before the break, but he header over from close range.
Saints did deservedly draw level with an hour played. James Doona raced down the left and his shot was parried across goal, from where Conan Byrne couldn’t miss and he powered home from close range.
Doona was again at the centre of the action as he set up skipper Ian Bermingham who crashed an effort off the crossbar. Jimmy Keohane then put Cork back in front with a stunning strike.
Finding a yard of space on the edge of the box, he cut onto his right foot and curled a beautiful effort into Farago’s top left corner, giving the Saints stopper no chance. Saints had chances in the dying seconds but with Farago up for a last-gasp corner they were made to pay.
Headed clear, Sadlier then hoofed the ball towards goal from deep into his own half and despite taking an eternity it found its way over the line in what will surely be the furthest from which a goal will be scored this season.
