Sport

Cork fail to take chances

National League Premier Division/  Cork City 0 St Patrick's Athletic 0: St Patrick's Athletic defied Cork City at Turner's Cross…

Tue Sept 05 2006 - 01:00

National League Premier Division/  Cork City 0 St Patrick's Athletic 0: St Patrick's Athletic defied Cork City at Turner's Cross last night despite having to defend for long periods of the match as Cork created enough chances to have won several games.

St Patrick's goalkeeper Barry Ryan deserves much credit as he was brave and committed under pressure and made several excellent saves. Roy O'Donovan was played clear to confront the goalkeeper on four occasions and yet failed to find the net.

St Patrick's grew in confidence as Cork continued to spurn their opportunities. They started with three in defence but quickly adjusted their team formation as they responded to Cork's early pressure. They withdrew Anto Whelan from midfield and played with an orthodox back four.

St Patrick's still found it hard to contain Cork, particularly as Neale Fenn was in such imaginative mood at centre-forward. He was at the heart of everything that was good in Cork's play.

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Twice he sent O'Donovan in on goal in the opening half but the Irish under-21 international had a shot saved by Barry Ryan after six minutes and although he beat the goalkeeper in the 36th minute, he saw his shot come back off the upright.

St Patrick's had a rare chance in the 16th minute but goalkeeper Michael Devine saved Anto Murphy's shot comfortably. The goalkeeper was relieved, however, when Mark Rooney turned the ball across the penalty area in the 27th minute but there was nobody in support to finish.

Colin O'Brien powered a header inches over the bar and Cork must have known their lack of scoring power would once again haunt them.

O'Donovan was again played clear in the second minute of added time and as goalkeeper Ryan raced to the edge of his penalty area, O'Donovan put the ball wide of the far upright.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, O'Brien, Gamble, Softic (Lordan 70); Behan (Woods 60), Fenn.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Foley, Quigley (Maguire 81), Brennan; Fahey, Foley, Mulcahy, Molloy, Murphy; Keegan (Armstrong 76), Rooney.

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).