Cork City 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 2: Stephen Kenny’s Title Charge Gains Pace As Pats Sink City Further Into Trouble.

A quick fire double right before half-time was enough to send St Patrick’s Athletic home from Turner’s Cross with all three points and overcome an injury-ravaged Cork City side who performed resiliently but lacked a clinical edge. as Stephen Kenny’s men stretch their unbeaten run to four matches and continue their pursuit of a first League of Ireland title since 2013.

St Pats arrived on Leeside with aspirations of ending the night in top spot, provided they secure all three points and Drogheda fail to win in Derry. City, meanwhile, knew that a win could help them climb out of the relegation zone as Tim Clancy’s Rebel Army looked to bounce back from a demoralising defeat at the Brandywell last week. The result was arguably not even the most damaging aspect of the loss to Derry as star striker Ruairi Keating ruptured his Achilles in stoppage time, thus ruling him out for the rest of the campaign.

In his place in the starting eleven came centre-half Charlie Lyons with the City captain returning from suspension to lead a back five as Clancy opted to change from his usual four-man defence that is yet to keep a clean sheet this season. With Keating’s absence adding to an already extensive injury list for the Leesiders, including other key attackers like Sean Maguire and Malik Dijksteel, it was 17-year-old Cathal O’Sullivan spearheading a wide front two alongside Alex Nolan – starting against the team with whom he spent the past two seasons.

The visitors arrived with their own injury issues up top, with the league’s joint top scorer Aidan Keena ruled out for a matter of weeks. They could seek solace in the fact that in his place leading the line was another 17-year-old, Mason Melia, the League of Ireland’s first ever one-million-euro export. Elsewhere for Pats, Jason McClelland replaced Jake Mulraney on the wing in the only change from the previous week’s 0-0 draw with Shelbourne at Richmond Park.

Although Pats dominated the ball in the early exchanges, it was the home side who came closest to opening the scoring in the seventh minute when a third consecutive corner kick in quick succession granted Milan Mbeng a very presentable opportunity in front of goal. Benny Couto’s pinpoint inswinger landed onto the head of the Frenchman whose downward nod bounced off the turf and over Joseph Anang’s crossbar – much to the Saints’ relief.

The next big chance of the game also fell to City midway through the first half and Couto was involved again. Darragh Crowley’s cross from the right was flicked on by Kitt Nelson near the penalty spot as the Anglo-Portuguese-Corkonian full-back steamed in freely at the back post but could only drill his shot into the side-netting.

Pats did not muster a shot until the 43^rd minute despite getting into some decent attacking positions. It was worth the wait for the travelling supporters, however, as Christopher Forrester’s left footed strike from the edge of the area cannoned in off the underside of the bar to give Stephen Kenny’s side the lead. City may have duly felt hard done by to go behind, but it was a strike worthy of a lead from the Saints’ midfielder.

Pats didn’t have to wait too long for their next shot on target, and neither for their next goal, as less than two minutes of play later, they doubled their lead. Brandon Kavanagh unleashed a hit from twenty-five yards or so, nestling into the bottom corner beyond the outstretched arm of Tein Troost in the City net. Stephen Kenny will have scarcely believed his luck going into the dressing room two goals to the good after an opening 40 minutes in which his side managed neither a shot nor a major scoring opportunity.

Angered by the injustice of the deficit no doubt, the Rebel Army came out firing in the second half, showing a lot more attacking intent as they looked to regain a foothold in the game. Alex Nolan and Darragh Crowley had shots saved by Anang as the home side piled on the pressure. O’Sullivan, who was comfortably City’s most dangerous attacking outlet, continued to run menacingly at the green-shirted defenders, and was unlucky not to win a penalty after being pushed over on the edge of the box just before the hour. His manager led the protests, along with the baying home crowd, and was shown a yellow card by referee Marc Lynch for some strong-minded words directed at the fourth official.

The fightback continued as Couto forced an important save Anang as the Pats ‘keeper got two firm hands to the left-wing back’s fearsomely hit chest-volley combo. The home team were nearly caught over-extending themselves, though, when the Saints broke up the pitch and Troost was called into action to stop a seemingly certain goal. With a dinked cross from the right landing at the feet of Jason McClelland no more than twelve yards out, the Pats number eleven could only direct his side-footed volley down the middle of the goal, allowing the ‘keeper to react quickly enough to block with his feet.

The following quarter of an hour saw Kenny’s men re-emerge as the dominant force in proceedings. Couto saw yellow for bringing down Melia rather cynically on the edge of the area and the resulting Kavanagh free kick had to be pushed out by City’s flying Dutchman sprawling across his goal. The subsequent corner then called on Charlie Lyons to prevent a Pats third as he blocked McClelland’s goal-bound first-time hit.

Although City continued to probe, there was little of substance. Clancy’s substitutions offered plenty of energy but little in the way of end product. Crosses flashed across the box, corners were won, there was even the odd non-troubling shot. But as the game drew to a close, both sides appeared to grow increasingly aware of its fate.

Despite the fact that Pats’ dream of finishing the night in first place was not realised thanks to Drogheda’s win in Derry, three points did vitally ensure they keep pace with their Louth and Dublin-based title rivals following victories for Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers tonight also. Whilst being far from a vintage, free-flowing performance by the team from Inchicore, it is a sign of champions, which Kenny’s side aspire to be, to pick up points even when you may not be at your best – especially at testing away grounds like Turner’s Cross.

For Tim Clancy however, he will be hoping that tonight’s home loss, albeit their first of the season, does not become a theme that could jeopardise their Premier Division status. A lengthy injury list, a precarious league position and the ongoing evasiveness of a clean sheet are all worries for the Leesiders. That said, a credible, spirited performance against the arguable favourites to take Shelbourne’s crown – in a game which the result may feel unjust -does offer enough encouragement that better days are soon to come at the Cross.