Cork City beat the Saints for the second time this season, but this win was down to poor finishing from the Saints as much as the efforts of the home team.
St Pat's deservedly took the lead on 13 minutes when Martin Russell's free from the left wing caused Cork all sorts of problems. Colm Foley leaped above the home defence to head the ball across goal from outside the far upright and when Paul Osam and goalkeeper Noel Mooney clashed the ball broke nicely to Liam Kelly who netted his third goal in three games.
IS Online predicted Mulligan might be a threat and that was to prove correct. In the 22nd minute Alan Carey's driven cross from the right wing was mis-kicked by Paul Donnelly to afford James Mulligan the opportunity to guide home the equaliser from 12 yards.
Babaz wasted a good opportunity when he was released by a good pass from Kelly, however under pressure from the chasing defenders he dragged his shot wide of goalkeeper Mooney but also just wide of goal. It was the let-off that City needed to claw their way back into the game and search for a winner.
They got one after 52 minutes with a fortunate pass-come shot by Anthony Buckley, who picked up a headed clearance and stepped inside Donnelly's challenge before firing a speculative ball low past goalkeeper Seamus Kelly and inside the far upright.
Paul Osam had 3 clear chances, 2 from headers where he could have and should have done better and one piledriver of a shot that was saved brilliantly by Noel Mooney 2 minutes from time as Cork hung on to a hard fought lead.
CORK CITY: Mooney; Carey, Daly, Coughlan, Horgan; Buckley, Bennett, O'Grady, Cahill; Hartigan, Mulligan. Subs: C P O'Brien for Mulligan (86 mins); Flanagan for O'Grady (87 mins).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: S Kelly; Crolly, Foley, Maguire, Donnelly; Griffin, Marney, Osam, Russell; L Kelly, Mbabazi. Subs: McCarthy for Mbabazi (57 mins); Doyle for Donnelly (77 mins); Mannion for Marney (85 mins).
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
