Cork City - 2 St Patrick's Athletic - 0:NATIONAL LEAGUE: Cork City stole an unlikely win at Turner's Cross last night as a disappointing contest produced an exciting and controversial finish.

Cork overcame one of their poorest performances of the season with a goal from centre forward John O'Flynn after 82 minutes and another from substitute Colin P O'Brien in added time to move to within six points of league leaders Bohemians.

St Patrick's paid a heavy price for failing to take advantage of the superiority they enjoyed for most of the match, and they were forced to finish the game with 10 players after the dismissal of Tony Bird, apparently for dissent.

Cork did not show as an attacking force until the second half and they came close in the 46th minute when Greg O'Halloran jumped above the defence to reach a free kick from Neal Horgan, only to flash his header narrowly wide.

St Patrick's were themselves lacking in penetration and they missed the pace of Mbabazi, whose recent injury meant he was accommodated on the substitutes bench until the 85th minute.

By then Cork had benefited from the introduction of O'Brien, with the first goal coming in the 82nd minute.

O'Flynn was fouled by full back Trevor Croly on the edge of the penalty area and he picked himself off the ground to fire the free kick through the wall of defenders, although a deflection took it into the net.

Three minutes into added time Billy Woods found substitute Colin P O'Brien and he shot home from 15 yards.

CORK CITY: Devine; Carey, Daly, Murray, Horgan; O'Halloran, O'Grady (Bennett 27 mins), Reynolds (CT O'Brien 75 mins), Woods; Warren (CP O'Brien 60 mins), O'Flynn.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Kelly; Croly (Hughes 85 mins), Foley, Harris, Burke; Bird, Donnelly, Osam, Russell; Kelly (Mbabazi 85 mins), McCarthy (Holt 87 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin)