Cork City - 0 St Patrick's Athletic - 2 St Patrick's Athletic jumped to the top of the eircom League when they picked up three vital points at the expense of Cork City in an eventful contest that provided more than 6,000 fans with rich entertainment at Turner's Cross last night.
New signing Gary McPhee and leading goalscorer Tony Bird were the goal-scoring heroes for St Pat's but they owed a huge debt to goalkeeper Chris Adamson for his work in denying a determined Cork, particularly in a first half that was dominated by the home team.
It was Cork's first defeat in the league at the venue after a run of nine matches and an expensive one it was. But they could have no complaints for they lacked imagination in their attacking play in the enforced absence of the suspended George O'Callaghan.
Denis Behan, a member of the Cork under-21 team that won the National League last season, came in as replacement and played up front alongside their leading goalscorer John O'Flynn.
St Pat's included four players who did not start the League Cup final against Longford Town on Monday. And their gamble in playing Davy Byrne, who was doubtful before the game because of an ankle injury, did not pay off.
He damaged the injured limb again in the first tackle he made and was forced off in the third minute. He was replaced by new signing Gary McPhee, formerly of Newry Town. McPhee was an immediate hit for he produced a goal against the run of play in added time just before the interval.
Cork centre-back Dan Murray and goalkeeper Michael Devine hesitated as they moved to cope with a long clearance from Colm Foley and McPhee knocked the ball between them and then rolled it into the empty net. The goal came as a surprise for it was Cork who made all the running in the opening half.
Goalkeeper Chris Adamson twice frustrated Cork by turning powerful shots from Behan and O'Flynn over the top as Cork dictated the run of play. But Cork looked surprisingly suspect in defence at times and the confusion that led to the goal was evident earlier on two occasions.
Full back Neal Horgan had to clear off the goal-line in the 20th minute when goalkeeper Devine missed an attempted tackle on Bird just outside the penalty box and McPhee almost snatched one in the 32nd minute after another mistimed clearance from Murray.
Cork were out-smarted again in the 71st minute when Paul Osam charged down an attempted clearance on the edge of the Cork penalty area, turned the ball wide for Livingstone Mbabazi and his cross was headed home by Bird.
The Welshman was an effective spearhead for St Pat's and his lively work kept the Cork defence at full-stretch.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Coughlan, Murray, Woods; Doyle, C. T. O'Brien, O'Halloran (Bennett 73 mins), Casey (Nolan 89 mins); Behan (C P O'Brien 64 mins), O'Flynn.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; Prenderville, Foley, Maguire, Donnelly; Fahey, Byrne (McPhee 3mins, Harris 73 mins), Osam, Livingstone Mbabazi; Bird, Freeman.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
