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Cork City 0 St. Patrick's Athletic 1
Tuesday, 07 July 2009 08:53
St. Patrick’s Athletic executed the perfect smash-and-grab to bring their losing run to a triumphant finish in the League of Ireland Premier Division clash at Turner’s Cross. Ryan Guy produced a classic finish in the 89th minute of the contest for their first win in four matches.

Cork City could have no complaints. They dominated possession but were almost exclusively dependent upon Denis Behan for their finishing attempts and while faced by a massed and disciplined St. Pat’s defence they rarely troubled goalkeeper Gary Rogers.

St. Pat’s welcomed back David Partridge after suspension and Jamie Harris came through a late fitness test to take his usual place in the centre of the defence. They were only troubled by Behan as Cork once again paid the penalty for a lack of ideas and a lack of penetration in attack.

St. Pat’s had a strong wind to their backs in the opening half and with Glen Fitzpatrick and Ryan Guy in lively form, they were dangerous in breakaway attacks. They showed a greater ability to create chances than did Cork.

Gareth O’Connor was set up nicely in a central position in the 21st minute when he had time to settle before hammering a right foot shot from 25 yards. It was deflected outside by Pat Sullivan.

Fitzpatrick instinctively unloaded a sharp volley in the 28th minute when a corner kick was deflected to his feet in a crowded goalmouth. The shot was headed away by Neal Horgan when it seemed to be flying into the corner.

Cork had more of the ball but had trouble getting players forward in support of Denis Behan. The centre-forward lost a great chance in the 15^th minute when Partridge left an attempted pass-back hopelessly short. Behan ran clear but the advancing Gary Rogers got a touch and deflected his shot for a corner.

St. Pat’s were quick to draw up two defensive lines in front of their penalty area whenever Cork got into an advanced position and the tactic frustrated Cork. Colin Healy’s volley in the 39^th minute was enveloped by this defensive web and whipped outside off a defender.

Predictably it was Behan who succeeded in penetrating this defensive screen just on half-time. His powerful free-kick from 30 yards was pushed away with difficulty by the diving Rogers.

St. Pat’s concentration upon defence was more pronounced in the second half when they routinely withdrew all eleven players for Cork corner kicks.

St. Pat’s were willing, however, and they were quicker than Cork in getting players forward in support of their strikers when they succeeded in finding time to work the ball clear with precision.

In consequence they threatened again in 65 minutes when Stuart Byrne’s shot was deflected outside by Murray and when, minutes later, Jason Gavin whipped a shot across the face of the goal and narrowly wide of the far upright.

Behan had the ball in the St. Pat’s net with a slick finish in the 63rd minute after Kuduzovic had slipped a ball through to him from wide left, but the striker’s celebration was cut short by an offside decision as Cork .

Cork rang the changes as they failed to turn their territorial advantage to account and two of their younger set in Shane Duggan and Craig Duggan - not related – were introduced into the attack. Still they struggled to produce an effective strike.

Instead it was St. Pat’s who caught Cork with a classic sucker punch in 89^th minute of the match. Cork were found light at the back when St. Pat’s broke forward and O’Connor fed Ryan Guy on the right edge of the Cork penalty area. Guy turned quickly to evade a defender and smashed a superb volley into the roof of the net from 14 yards.

Cork City: Connor; Horgan, Sullivan, Murray, Murphy; Gamble, O’Donnell (shane Duggan 66), Healy; Silagailis, Behan, Kuduzovic (Craig Duggan 69).

St. Patrick’s Athletic: Gavin, Harris, Partridge, Stevens; Maher (Darragh Ryan 77), O’Connor, Byrne, Bobby Ryan; Guy, Fitzpatrick (Cawley 90).

Referee: Mr. P. Sutton (Clare).
 
 
 
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