- John O'Shea
- Wed, May 20 2015
In this EA Sports Cup Quarter Final at Turners Cross on Tuesday evening, it was St Patrick's Athletic who booked their place in the semi-finals with a 5-3 penalty shootout victory following 120 minutes of football which saw both sides finish on one goal apiece.
A headed effort from Jack Bayly gave St Pats the lead before Liam Kearney leveled for City. The game progressed to extra time and, eventually, penalties, as The Saints now seek to win the competition they last won in 2003.
In a game which was arguably the pick of the Quarter Final ties, both sides saw this as a chance to make a number of changes given the hectic fixture schedule both sides have to face.
Overall it was a nice, open game in the early stages, with both sides playing some pleasant football.
St Patrick’s Athletic made a bright start, putting the early pressure on their hosts, having a few long distance efforts. Conan Byrne looked dangerous going forward, first he cut in from the right and had a shot from the edge of the box, but it went straight at Smith in the City goal. Then, in the 19th minute, he saw his free kick turned around the post by the City ‘keeper.
City responded with a good chance of their own, as John O’Flynn had an effort tipped over the bar by Brendan Clarke, when the Cork forward turned brilliantly outside the box. Not long afterwards, Danny Morrissey did well and shot right at Clarke.
In the 24th minute, Kevin O’Connor put a shot just wide for Cork and it was one he would feel he should have put away as he only had the keeper to beat. It was a good through ball from Morrissey to pick him out.
Then, just a minute later, further indicating the openness of the first half, The Saints went close when Ian Bermingham got in behind on the left and shot wide with an effort across the goal.
O’Connor, a recent recruit for City, was to go close again in the 39th minute when he had a shot from the edge of the box saved by Clarke.
Cork came out pressing for an opener in the very early stages of the second half with Morrissey and Rob Lehane both going close.
In the 53rd minute Jamie McGrath went on a fantastic run into the Cork box, his shot going within inches of finding the net. Pats were a danger on most occasions when they surged forward.
The Saints took the lead exactly on the hour mark. Bayly was at the back post to head the ball into the net from a Bermingham cross. City’s keeper Smith will be disappointed with his attempts to clear the danger as he misjudged the cross when he came to clear.
City, as they have done in recent league games, reacted well to going behind and were level just five minutes later. Liam Kearney was on hand to tap the ball home after a great effort from Lehane hit the post.
Then, shortly after they equalized, Saints keeper Clarke made a brilliant save to deny Michael McSweeney from a Ross Gaynor corner.
Play was then halted for a few minutes, as Danny Morrissey went down in pain after attempting to block a McGuinness clearance.
As the game headed into the final ten minutes, City were again beginning to apply the pressure, forcing Clarke into a few comfortable saves. Dennehy went close in stoppage time with a well struck effort that went just over the bar.
Kearney was to shoot straight at Clarke right before the end but neither side could find a winner and therefore extra time was to be played.
It was City who were on top in the opening half of extra time with Dennehy shooting over the bar in the 101st minute, before Kavanagh went on a superb run into the box but he was denied.
The Saints defence were resolute as Cork pushed forward in the second period of extra time with Kevin O’Connor heading the ball on target from a Lehane cross.
With 120 minutes played we were unable to find a winner so the game was decided by penalties.
In what was a tight and tense shootout, it was to be The Saints who would emerge as victors. They failed to miss as Killian Brennan, Conan Byrne, James Chambers, Conor McCormack and Chris Forrester all converted their spot kicks. City’s first penalty by Garry Buckley proved crucial when it was saved by Clarke.
St Patrick’s Athletic will join holders Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers and Galway United in the semi final stages of the competition.
Cork City: Alan Smith; Michael McSweeney, Gary Buckley, Dan Murray, Ross Gaynor; Kevin O’Connor, Liam Kearney; Rob Lehane, Josh O’Shea (Billy Dennehy 65), Danny Morrissey (Mark O’Sullivan 75); John O’Flynn (John Kavanagh 46).
Subs not used: Mark McNulty, Darren Dennehy, Cian Coleman, Timmy Murphy.
Booked: Murray (56), Buckley (93), O’Sullivan (108).
St Patricks Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Conor McCormack, Kenny Browne, Jason McGuinness, Bermingham; Conan Byrne, James Chambers, Sam Verdon, Jack Bayly (Darragh Markey 82), Morgan Langley; Jamie McGrath (Chris Forrester 117).
Subs not used: Pat Jennings (gk), Ciaran Kilduff, Killian Brennan, Lee Desmond, Paul Rooney.
Booked: Bayly (36), Bermingham (84), McGrath (86), Langley (112).
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
Attendance: 930
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Brendan Clarke (St Patricks Athletic)
