Classy goals set up City’s first home win

Cork City 3 St Patrick’s Athletic 1

Three goals, two of them quite spectacular, laid the foundations for the victory and although the Dubliners did get a late consolation, City’s skill and hunger proved too much for the visitors.

City started hesitantly, but in the second minute, Kevin Doyle got on the end of a long ball, beat Foley and was on his way past Prenderville and clear on goal when the full-back dragged him to the floor.

The City fans made a vocal case for the Pats’ player to be sent off, but referee Whoriskey only brandished a yellow card and Denis Behan made a hash of the free-kick.

But, just nine minutes in, Liam Kearney collected the ball wide on the left and floated in a beautifully inviting cross which Barry Ryan lost control of it under Behan’s challenge.

The ball spilled to Kevin Doyle, who tapped in his fourth league goal of the season.

Pats tried to push forward after this early reverse and Robbie Doyle had Devine scrambling to save at his post.

Twelve minute later, however, City were two up.

From a seemingly innocuous position on the left, George O’Callaghan put in a delicate cross and Denis Behan’s deft header beat a flat-footed Ryan.

City very nearly had a third on 27 minutes when an excellent Denis Behan free-kick from 30 yards was parried by an obviously edgy Ryan and Doyle’s follow-up shot veered just wide.

Colm Foley became the third Pat’s player to get a yellow card in the 35th minute when he flattened George O’Callaghan.

The visitors tried hard to get back in the game after the break and Darragh Maguire had a wild effort over the bar from an early corner, but in truth it was just not happening for John McDonnell’s side against a City team gaining confidence by the minute.

That point was underlined on 52 minutes when the home team scored a sublime third goal.

Colin O’Brien collected the ball in midfield and put 19 year-old Roy O’Donovan through. Displaying a maturity which belied his years, he let loose a brilliant dipping shot which beat Ryan all ends up.

This was O’Donovan’s first league start and he repaid Damien Richardson’s faith in with considerable style.

Pat’s battled on to at least claw back some self-respect. Three chances in as many minutes came their way but the City defence were in any mood to give anything away.

O’Donovan nearly had a second after a mazy run and Behan also had a shot just across the face of the goal as City kept the pressure on in the final stages.

In the end, though, it was Pat’s who scored the final goal, when Prenderville’s shot was deflected off George O’Callaghan’s head and looped over the stranded Devine.

CORK CITY: M. Devine; N. Horgan, A. Bennett, D. Murray (Capt), B. Woods; R. O’Donovan, C. O’Brien, G. O’Callaghan, L. Kearney; D. Behan (Gamble, 84), K. Doyle.

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: B. Ryan; B. Prenderville, C. Foley, D. Maguire, P. Donnelly (Maher, 78); S. Caffrey, M. Foley, K. Fahey (Bell, 76), R. Doyle; G. Rowe, V. Perth (Holt, 70).

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey.