Pats continue perfect start with win in Cork
Monday 12th March 2007, 10:00 pm
Gary O'Neill (right) opened his Saints account at Turner's Cross.
Photo by Tom Carey.
12th March 2007
Setanta Sports Cup Group 2
Cork City 1
John O'Flynn 85
St. Patrick's Athletic 3
Gary O'Neill 32, 90 +2 pen
Alan Kirby 50
Turner's Cross
Live on Setanta Ireland
Two goals from Gary O'Neill, his first goals for the club, helped Saint Patrick's Athletic on their way to a 3-1 win over Cork City at Turner's Cross in tonight's Setanta Sports Cup game. The result leaves the Saints as the only side to have won both of their games in the competition. The Saints now top the group by four points and look a good bet for a last four place.
Cork City rallied at 2-0 down and John O'Flynn's goal five minutes from time gave them some hope but a late penalty from O'Neill assured the visitors of the win.
A bright start saw Mark Quigley volley narrowly over the Saints before Roy O'Donovan fluffed a header from a good position at the other end. O'Donovan again went close as Cork searched for their first goal of the season.
Denis Behan almost got in for Cork on the half hour after Billy Woods did well to get behind the visiting defence. However, Darragh Maguire made a crucial block to snuff out the danger.
The lead goal arrived on 32 minutes as O'Neill hit the net for the first time at his new club. Joe Gamble had the ball nicked off his toe by Ndo as he attempted to pass and as the ball bounced into the path of O'Neill, he arrowed home a magnificent strike.
Although Cork came out improved in the second period, the Saints went 2-0 up on 50 minutes. O'Neill squared for Alan Kirby and the former Longford man, lobbed home superbly from twenty-five yards to beat the stranded Mick Devine.
O'Flynn nipped in to score City's first goal of 2007 as he reacted brilliantly to turn home from Behan's knock down after the bustling Cork striker got up to win a header while caught between both Maguire and Stephen Brennan.
As Cork looked for a second, the Saints threatened to break through for a third. Devine saved well from John Frost's angled shot before Ndo broke on goal in the first minute of added time.
About to pull the trigger on the edge of the Cork box, Joe Gamble clipped his feet from under him and the award was a penalty. Gamble walked for his part, shown a straight red card for a professional foul.
O'Neill stepped up and slotted home the penalty to wrap up the win and cap a magnificent start to the season for St. Pats.
Cork City : Devine, Horgan, Ryan (Cillian Lordan 59), Murray, Kelly, Gamble, O'Brien (Softic 73), Woods (O'Flynn 65), Kearney, Behan, O'Donovan.
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Brennan, Frost, C Foley, Maguire, Kirby, Ndo, Fahey, Murphy (S Quigley 74), M Quigley (Rooney 65), O'Neill.