- Philip Morrissey
- Fri, May 05 2023
Philip Morrissey reporting from Turners Cross
Interim boss Jon Daly saw his side recover from a half-time deficit to come back and win tonight at Turners Cross.
An early Mark Doyle goal had given them the lead before they went behind. Strikes after the break by Jake Mulraney and substitute Adam Murphy completed the turnaround for the Inchicore outfit.
It is the ninth defeat of the season for the home side, though. They contributed greatly to an open first half after going behind but found chances harder to come by in the second. It is critical they find a new manager soon and recruit well if they are to avoid relegation.
Both interim managers made four changes. Ally Gilchrist and Aaron Bolger were suspended for the home side, selected by Liam Buckley, Liam Kearney, and Richie Holland, while Albin Winbo was injured and Daniel Moynihan dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Jimmy Corcoran, Tunde Owolabi, Ethan Varain, and Kevin Custovic.
Jon Daly had Eoin Doyle suspended and Carl Sjoberg injured. Adam Murphy and Thijs Timmermans also missed out. Jamie Lennon, Mark Doyle, Vladislav Kreida, and Jay McGrath all started.
It was an attacking match from both sides from the very beginning. The ball was swept into the area from the right side, and Mark Doyle prodded it goalwards only to see Jimmy Corcoran block it with his legs. City came right back, and Ruairi Keating surged down the right side with players in support. The eventual cross went out.
Tunde Owolabi was the next to test the Pats' back-line as he burst his way into the area. He went to ground after a coming together with a Pats defender. Nothing awarded despite the protests.
Pats were starting to experience some joy down the City left, and this led to the opening goal. Chris Forrester laid it off to Anthony Breslin, who cut it back for Conor Carty to put them in front. More frustration from the home side as Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh was denied a free kick before a deep cross just evaded Keating at the back post.
City managed to draw level in curious fashion as they attacked down the right side yet again. The cross was played in by Keating, which appeared to be missed by the Pats defender, and Owolabi was in the right place to bundle it home. It was his second goal in successive home games for the former Pats striker.
The away side almost manufactured a response moments later. Jake Mulraney was left cursing his luck when his chip from the edge of the area hit the crossbar and went out to safety.
City then found themselves in front with yet another strange goal. A corner was played in from the left by Matt Healy and only half-cleared by Jay McGrath. O'Brien-Whitmarsh was lurking on the edge of the area, and his header seemed to deceive Dean Lyness and ended up in the bottom corner. Keating almost made it three from an excellent Healy cross but just missed with his header.
It was still end-to-end as both Mulraney and Owolabi had opportunities to add to the scoring before the break.
Both sides were attempting to feel each other out at the start of the second half as Daly elected to make some tactical switches at the break. The away side were starting to see more of the ball, however, and drew themselves level.
Mulraney shrugged off the attention of Josh Honohan to rifle the ball to the left of Corcoran's despairing dive. Adam Murphy almost profited from a loose pass from the defense shortly after, but his cross was cleared.
Clear chances at the other end were at a premium. Daniel Krezic set O'Brien-Whitmarsh away, but his cross was too deep for Darragh Crowley at the back post. He then almost created a chance for Keating from a free kick, only for it to be blown for an infringement.
It was Pats who managed to regain the lead as the game approached the final stages. Murphy seized upon a slack pass to burst through the City backline, skip past the on-rushing Corcoran, and slot into the empty net. Thomas Lonergan thought he had secured the points, only for his low shot to be ruled out for offside.
It was the away fans who were singing upon the final whistle after a tough week. They must hope to build on this as they take on Drogheda on Friday at 19:45. Cork face a daunting trip to play away to Dundalk on the same evening.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Cian Coleman, Darragh Crowley, Josh Honohan; Barry Coffey, Kevin Custovic, Matt Healy, Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh, Ethon Varian (Daniel Krezic 66); Ruairi Keating, Tunde Owolabi (Cian Murphy 76).
Subs not used: John O'Donovan, Gordon Walker, Arran Healy, Daniel Moynihan.
Booked: Josh Honohan (36), Tunde Owolabi (73).
St. Patrick's Athletic: Dean Lyness; Anto Breslin, Sam Curtis, Noah Lewis (Adam Murphy 46), Jay McGrath; Chris Forrester, Vladislav Kreida, Jamie Lennon, Jake Mulraney (Serge Atakayi 71); Conor Carty (Thomas Lonergan 71), Mark Doyle.
Subs not used: David Odumosu, Jason McClelland, Ben McCormack, Thijs Timmermans, Mason Melia.
Booked: Anto Breslin (13), Adam Murphy (69).
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea
Attendance: 3,211
extratime.com Player of the Match: Jake Mulraney
