No fairytale start for Dolan
His work at Richmond Park earned for him on Leeside the reputation of a sorcerer with the ability to turn base metal into gold.
As a consequence, an estimated 6,000 spectators were left disappointed as the weight of expectation depressed the quality of the football in a robust and vigorous contest.
It was physical and intense and battle was enjoined at such pace as to make constructive football an impossibility.
St Pat's were left with more reasons for satisfaction at the final whistle. Their squad of capable players was bigger, in the physical and numerical sense.
The greater experience in their ranks meant they coped more comfortably with the particular challenges of the day the atmosphere, a difficult playing surface, the determined opposition.
It was to Cork's credit that they succeeded in wresting control from their grasp in the second half to dictate for long periods. It was no surprise that a generous measure of possession only served to highlight the weaknesses that limited Cork's progress last season.
Dolan learned a lot about his squad and, happily for him, without having to pay too big a price. St Pat's will be one of the front-runners this season on this evidence and in all the circumstances this was a point gained by Cork, rather than the loss of two.
Also evident was that the fans understood the nature of the exercise and the confidence they have obviously
invested in their new manager was intact, despite the disappointing quality of the football.
Their encouragement as Cork took a final bow was immense.
Said Dolan: "I want to thank all of the supporters for coming out, we wanted to give them a win and I'm just sorry we could not do that."
He indicated he will be seeking to sign new players before the season is much older but again stressed his commitment to the players he inherited.
"We tried very hard but our quality in the final third was very poor. I asked the players for a big effort and they gave it to me, you could not ask for more from any team in terms of spirit and effort."
St Pat's gave early notice that they were well aware of the nature of the challenge they would face by playing Jamie Harris, who is more recognised as a centre-back, at centre-forward.
A big, strong target-man, Harris was effective in the general hurly-burly of a turbulent game and he was a strong physical presence who kept Cork on their toes.
St Pat's paraded several new signings and new manager Eamon Collins had every reason to be pleased with the debut performances of Karim in midfield and goalkeeper Chris Adamson.
He said: "We passed the ball well and I felt we were more threatening. Our goalkeeper had only one shot to save and I was encouraged by our
efforts to get the ball down and play. We have been assembling the squad over the last seven weeks and I am happy with the result. Not many teams will come here and take a point so we take encouragement from that."
Cork's success in taking control of the game in the second half was down to the impact Conor O'Grady made in controlling Paul Osam.
The St Pat's leader was an influential player alongside another very good signing in Davy Byrne, formerly Shels, but in the second half O'Grady concentrated on what he does best and never strayed from his side.
The service to the strikers was never up to scratch, however, and Cork were almost exclusively reliant upon the athletic John O'Flynn to produce a scoring chance.
Dolan identified the problem when he said: "In the second half I felt we were going to win but the final ball needed to be better. We showed a lot of character and we are starting to get a clear picture of where we need to improve."
CORK CITY (4-4-2): Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Cronin; Carey (Buckley 84), O'Grady, O'Halloran, Woods; Doyle (CP O'Brien 65), O'Flynn.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
(4-4-2): Adamson; Prenderville, Foley, Maguire, Casey; McGuinness (Holt 75), Byrne, Osam, Karim El Khebir; Mbabazi (Freeman 65), Harris (George 77).
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
