Cummins scores again to see City through

GRAHAM CUMMINS grabbed his 11th goal of the season as high-flying Cork City saw off Premier Division St Pat’s in a pulsating EA Sports Cup quarter-final at Turner’s Cross yesterday.

Derek O’Brien had given the Leesiders a first-half lead before St Pat’s hit back through Neil Harney on 57 minutes, only for Cummins’ brilliant finish to give Cork victory. The Leesiders also had goalkeeper Mark McNulty to thank for some late heroics.

St Pat’s were unbeaten since April coming into yesterday’s game but Pete Mahon reshuffled his side, making seven changes from the side which beat Crumlin in the FAI Cup. City, for their part, have only lost one game this season, in the Munster Senior Cup to Carrick United, but they were without suspended duo of Danny Murphy and Vinny Sullivan, while Davin O’Neill is getting married.

The Leesiders have been though the mill since the last time the sides met, in 2009, a 1-1 draw at Inchicore. But there’s a buzz about City this season and they were quickly into their stride, Frenchman Vincent Escude-Candau flashing the ball across goal from Cummins’ pass. Pat’s settled and Cork had a let-off when Paul Crowley had the ball in the net but was adjudged to be offside in the ninth minute.

But City found their rhythm again and took the lead on 18 minutes. Cummins stole possession from Saints centre-back Evan McMillan and laid the ball off to Escude-Candau, who swept it out wide to Derek O’Brien.

O’Brien teased right-back Neil Harney at the edge of the box before cracking a thunderous drive past Chris Bennion into the far corner.

Spillane then missed a gilt-edged chance from three yards out, blasting the ball over the bar from Cummins’ knockdown.

And St Pat’s almost made them pay, Mark McNulty making a brilliant one-handed save to deny Daryl Kavanagh, then Shane McFaul missed from 10 yards when set up by Daniel North.

City almost went two up just before the break O’Brien and Cummins combining well but Ian Bermingham cleared O’Brien’s effort off the line.

St Pat’s started the second-half in determined fashion and on 56 minutes Pat’s made them pay. No-one tracked the run of Neil Harney as he charged into the box to firmly head home Sean Stewart’s cross.

Pat’s had rocked Cork but the home side went back in front on 71 minutes.

Escude-Candau fed Cummins at the edge of the box, and the striker took on McMillan before curling a right-footed effort in off the far post to send the home supporters into raptures.

City pressed for a third but Pat’s almost forced extra-time at the death. In the second minute of injury-time David Mulcahy’s 20-yard effort was parried by McNulty and the keeper leapt up quickly to somehow keep out Kavanagh’s follow-up from close range.

CORK CITY: McNulty, Kavanagh, Spillane, Mulcahy, Horgan, Morrissey (Turner 86), O’Halloran, Duggan, O’Brien, Escude-Candau, Cummins.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Bennion, Harney, McMillan, Mulcahy, Bermingham, Stewart, Bradley, McFaul (O’Brien) , Crowley, Kavanagh, North.

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).