Tonight Conan Byrne was St Pat’s hero as he struck in the first minute of stoppage time to snatch a 3-2 win over title rivals Cork City.
It sent the Saints to the top of the Premier Division for the first time this season.
Cork last won in Inchicore five years ago but when Robert Lehane came off the bench to equalise eight minutes from time with what must have been his first touch, it looked as though they were destined to leave with a point.
Byrne, however, had other ideas.
It was more than the home fans might have expected when Cork took a 1-0 lead into the break. Mark O’Sullivan’s goal on 14 minutes was the only meaningful chance of an uneventful first half in which Pat’s dominated possession but couldn’t break down the well-organised visitors.
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It wasn’t the prettiest goal O’Sullivan will score, though that hardly matters. Six yards out, he fluffed a simple chance from Liam Kearney’s cross straight at Brendan Clarke before succeeding at the second attempt.
It was another early blow for Pat’s who lost top scorer Christy Fagan after just four minutes. He limped off following a heavy challenge from Dan Murray.
Daryl Kavanagh was sent on in his place and after a quiet first half, he had the ball in the net three minutes after the restart, getting the final touch on Byrne’s flashing header only to be flagged offside.
That set the tone for a much more energetic Pat’s performance. Chris Forrester — who was named Airtricity/SWAI Player of the Month after an outstanding April — always looked like the most lively threat
He played in Bermingham who should have done better when he shot straight at McNulty, but the left-full made amends two minutes later when he beat Brian Lenihan to the ball to win a penalty.
Byrne chose left and even though Mark McNulty guessed correctly, he couldn’t keep it out.
Bar a few meaty challenges, Cork struggled to impose themselves from that point and when Pat’s took the lead 11 minutes later, Forrester was the creator again. His cross found Browne who stretched his leg through a thicket of bodies to score.
It looked as though sub Lehane had done enough to give Cork a draw when he pounced on a loose backpass and rounded Clarke in the 82nd minute.
But there was always the sense that there would be another twist and Byrne supplied it in stoppage time, latching on to Kavanagh’s pass to fire the champions back to the summit.
Conan Byrne the hero as Pat's beat Cork with last-gasp goal
St Patrick’s Athletic 3-2 Cork City
CHAMPIONS FIND A way to win.
Tonight Conan Byrne was St Pat’s hero as he struck in the first minute of stoppage time to snatch a 3-2 win over title rivals Cork City.
It sent the Saints to the top of the Premier Division for the first time this season.
Cork last won in Inchicore five years ago but when Robert Lehane came off the bench to equalise eight minutes from time with what must have been his first touch, it looked as though they were destined to leave with a point.
Byrne, however, had other ideas.
It was more than the home fans might have expected when Cork took a 1-0 lead into the break. Mark O’Sullivan’s goal on 14 minutes was the only meaningful chance of an uneventful first half in which Pat’s dominated possession but couldn’t break down the well-organised visitors.
It wasn’t the prettiest goal O’Sullivan will score, though that hardly matters. Six yards out, he fluffed a simple chance from Liam Kearney’s cross straight at Brendan Clarke before succeeding at the second attempt.
It was another early blow for Pat’s who lost top scorer Christy Fagan after just four minutes. He limped off following a heavy challenge from Dan Murray.
Daryl Kavanagh was sent on in his place and after a quiet first half, he had the ball in the net three minutes after the restart, getting the final touch on Byrne’s flashing header only to be flagged offside.
That set the tone for a much more energetic Pat’s performance. Chris Forrester — who was named Airtricity/SWAI Player of the Month after an outstanding April — always looked like the most lively threat
He played in Bermingham who should have done better when he shot straight at McNulty, but the left-full made amends two minutes later when he beat Brian Lenihan to the ball to win a penalty.
Byrne chose left and even though Mark McNulty guessed correctly, he couldn’t keep it out.
Bar a few meaty challenges, Cork struggled to impose themselves from that point and when Pat’s took the lead 11 minutes later, Forrester was the creator again. His cross found Browne who stretched his leg through a thicket of bodies to score.
It looked as though sub Lehane had done enough to give Cork a draw when he pounced on a loose backpass and rounded Clarke in the 82nd minute.
But there was always the sense that there would be another twist and Byrne supplied it in stoppage time, latching on to Kavanagh’s pass to fire the champions back to the summit.
ST PAT’S: Clarke, O’Brien (c), Browne, Hoare, Bermingham, Byrne, Lynch, Fahey, Chambers (Brennan, 80), Forrester (Bolger, 87), Fagan (Kavanagh, 4).
Substitutes: Gilmartin, Oman, McCormack, Fitzgerald, Bolger, Brennan, Kavanagh.
CORK CITY: McNulty, Lenihan, D Dennehy, Murray, Dunleavy (c), B Dennehy, Buckley (Lehane, 79), Healy, Morrissey, Kearney (Turner, 79), O’Sullivan.
Substitutes: Gledhill, Davoren, O’Connell, Turner, O’Leary, Elding, Lehane.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
Other Airtricity Premier Division and First Division results:
Bray narrowly overcome Limerick to move into top half>
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SSE Airtricity League Premier Division LOI Report Cork City