Fagan hits winner as St Pat’s finish third

St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Cork City 0

City had their sights set on a win that would guarantee fifth spot and a place in next season’s Setanta Cup. But they had to rely on results elsewhere for a place in the cross-border tournament as their season ended with a whimper as Pat’s cemented third.

Yet for manager Tommy Dunne, last night’s performance was further proof, as if it was already required, that additions must be made to the squad if they are to battle with the big boys in 2013.

In a season characterised by City throwing away lead after lead, it was a different story in Richmond Park. The Leesiders were second best until falling behind, and although their response was spirited, they couldn’t find a finishing touch.

The Saints controlled the game for long spells and should have been ahead long before Christy Fagan’s 56th minute effort. City were sluggish for the entire opening period, their only chances of note in 45 minutes coming from a pair of Gearóid Morrissey efforts on the edge of the area. The first produced a decent stop from Brendan Clarke and the second arrived after Pat’s skipper Conor Kenna gifted the ball to Morrissey after a slack pass from defence.

Yet it was the home side that not only played the better quality of football but also created the greater opportunities. Fagan struck the post with the first noteworthy attempt of the game just over 20 minutes into the contest, while James Chambers curled mere inches wide of Mark McNulty’s right-hand post five minutes before the break.

At times, the Saints’ incisive passing left the visitors struggling. While in recent weeks City have been playing with three central midfielders in an attempt to control that area, Pat’s matched the system, leaving both James Chambers and Chris Forrester the chance to spread the ball about at will.

Pat’s started the second period in a similar manner to the first and Ger O’Brien flashed inches wide on 50 minutes with Forrester also bearing down on goal. It was a warning for City, but not one they took heed to.

Deservedly, and perhaps expected, the only goal arrived 11 minutes into the second period when Fagan curled neatly into the bottom right corner following Vinny Faherty’s through ball.

It wasn’t until after falling behind that City matched the home side’s level of intensity, Shane Duggan coming close with a deflected strike from 20 yards and Gavin Kavanagh headed into Brendan Clarke’s hands from a Gearóid Morrissey corner.

They just couldn’t find the required finish, however, as the curtains came down on 2012 with a 10th defeat.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Clarke; O’Brien, Browne, Kenna, Bermingham; O’Connor (Russell 77), Forrester, Chambers, Carroll (Coombes 89), Faherty (Kelly 57); Fagan.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Dunleavy, Kavanagh, K Murray, Murphy; Turner (O’Neill 67), Duggan, Healy, Morrissey, D Horgan; Sullivan (Kenny 71).

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).