Cork City 1 St Patrick's Athletic 0:This game promised top billing and those in attendance were certainly treated to a top match. Football played on the deck throughout, ebbing and flowing from one end to the next. Not quite "total football" but a genuine advertisement for the summer game nonetheless.
As pretty as it was, however, Damien Richardson's side craved full points. Trailing their opponents by nine going into the game, the prospect of slipping even further behind was unthinkable. But, having stemmed a St Patrick's tide, they edged in front, condemning the 10-man Inchicore side to their first league defeat.
Both teams played with superb confidence, probing and scheming throughout. St Patrick's, though, shaded the opening exchanges, ploughing forward with pace and panache.
Joseph Ndo and Keith Fahey orchestrated much of their best work, the former blazing a spectacular volley narrowly over. Ahead of that pair, strikers Mark Quigley and Gary O'Neill were equal to the task and collectively the quartet proved difficult to handle.
Nevertheless, having sized up their opponents for long enough Cork quickly initiated their own gameplan. Once afforded time on the ball they found both flanks particularly rewarding but Liam Kearney squandered too much possession down the left when in promising positions. That said, but for Stephen Brennan's deflection, his goalbound effort, after neat footwork in the box, could have broke the deadlock 10 minutes before the break.
But despite Cork's surge in productivity St Patrick's remained focused. Their play this season has been eye-catching and the manner in which they carved Cork open just before half-time was sublime. A slick move culminated in a neat one-two between Ndo and Fahey with the former curling just inches wide.
The decisive score, though, came from the spot. Michael Devine's clearance was deflected into the box where Stephen Paisley saw red for grappling O'Donovan to the ground. The forward nonchalantly struck past Barry Ryan.
CORK CITY:Devine; Horgan, O'Callaghan, Murray, Ryan; Gamble, O'Brien, Softic, Kearney; O'Donovan, Behan. Subs: Woods for Kearney (61), O'Flynn for Behan (88).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC:Ryan; Maguire, Brennan, Paisley; Murphy, Fahey, Mulcahy, Ndo, Frost; O'Neill, M Quigley. Subs: S Quigley for Mulcahy (half-time), C Foley for M Quigley (70), O'Connor for O'Neill (88). Booked: Brennan (51). Sent off: Paisley (69).
Referee:D McKeon (Dublin).
