League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 4 - 0 Cork City
Credit: Liam Coughlan (ETPhotos)
Andrew Dempsey reports from Richmond Park
St Patrick’s Athletic romped to a 4-0 win at home to Cork City on Friday night, with Jake Mulraney the main man for the hosts.
Mulraney scored and set up another in the win, with Jamie Lennon, Jason McClelland and Mark Doyle also scoring in their emphatic success.
Coming into the game with just two wins to their name so far this season, Tim Clancy stayed with the same side that defeated UCD 3-0 last weekend.
Cork City however made two changes from their recent 1-1 draw with Drogheda United as Albin Winbo and Jonas Hakkinen came in for Barry Coffey and Cian Coleman.
And it was the visitors who started the game brightly with Daniel Krezic forcing a smart save from Dean Lyness.
The Swede rose highest to meet Ruairi Keating’s cross into the box but Lyness got down well to deny the Leesiders an opener early on.
The Saints reacted well and ought to have scored themselves, but Eoin Doyle and Sam Curtis were unable to hit their efforts on target.
Jamie Lennon then went close shortly after, but his effort on goal could only ripple the side-netting.
And in the 15th minute the hosts took the lead through Mulraney.
The former MLS star broke free in the penalty area and swept an Eoin Doyle cross into the net with aplomb to give the hosts a deserved lead.
And Vladislav Kreida then forced Jimmy Corcoran into a good save shortly after, with the former Preston North End youngster batting the shot on goal away with ease.
But as the half progressed, the Saints remained on top without creating many clear chances.
As a consequence, it was Cork City who then almost levelled with Keating going close.
The former Galway United man latched onto a through ball and saw his dinked effort on goal clip off the bar and stay out of the net.
City then started the second half well and threatened through Winbo and Aaron Bolger, but neither could find the net from long-range.
Kevin Custovic then went on a marauding run forward for the visitors, but his shot on goal from the edge of the box was well saved by Lyness.
But that was as good as it got for the visitors as McClelland struck from distance just after the hour mark.
The UCD midfielder found the net after a superb header from Joe Redmond played the ball into his path – and he cracked his shot into the bottom corner.
Lennon then headed home to make it 3-0, as he got on the end of Mulraney’s cross into the box.
And Mark Doyle then completed the rout as he slotted home into the net with a dragged effort along the ground.
The result saw the Athletic rise to 7th in the table, and they are now two points clear of Shelbourne – with Cork City stranded in 9th.
St. Patrick's Athletic: Dean Lyness; Anto Breslin, Sam Curtis, Jay McGrath, Joe Redmond; Chris Forrester (Adam Murphy 79), Vladislav Kreida, Jamie Lennon (Conor Carty 85); Eoin Doyle (Thomas Lonergan 71), Jason McClelland (Mark Doyle 79), Jake Mulraney (Thijs Timmermans 79).
Subs not used: David Odumosu, Noah Lewis, Ben McCormack, Carl Axel Sjoberg.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Kevin Custovic, Ally Gilchrist, Jonas Hakkinen, Josh Honohan; Aaron Bolger, Darragh Crowley, Albin Winbo (Ethon Varian 76); Cian Bargary (Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh 76), Ruairi Keating, Daniel Krezic (Cian Murphy, 57).
Subs not used: Aaron Mannix, John O'Donovan, Barry Coffey, Arran Healy, Cian Coleman.
Booked: Aaron Bolger (39), Cian Murphy (65).
Referee: Robert Hennessy.
Attendance: 3689.
extratime.com Player of the Match: Jake Mulraney (St Patrick's Athletic).
