Fagan's goal puts St Patrick's in Europe

St Patrick's Athletic 1 Cork City 0:CHRISTY FAGAN'S second-half goal was enough to secure all three points for St Patrick's and with it third place in the Premier Division table and a place in next year's Europa League qualifying stages.

However, Cork made St Patrick’s work hard for the win and Tommy Dunne’s side will feel they could have taken at least a point from the game. St Patrick’s had marginally more chances than their visitors in a hectic opening and went close to taking the lead on 16 minutes. Fagan struck a low and hard shot that hit the right hand post of Mark McNulty’s goal before cannoning across the goalmouth and out of danger.

St Patrick’s carved out another good chance along the right wing on 35 minutes which saw Sean O’Connor weave his way through the Cork defence, but with Fagan and Jake Carroll waiting in the penalty area O’Connor tamely shot straight at McNulty.

Cork immediately cleared the ball downfield and within seconds Gearoid Morrissey saw his strike from 25 yards tipped over the bar by Brendan Clarke in the St Patrick’s goal.

James Chambers was next to try his luck for St Patrick’s on 38 minutes following good work from Carroll and Chris Forrester but Chambers’ shot from outside the area flew wide.

St Patrick’s took the lead on 56 minutes when Fagan beat McNulty with a fine left-footed shot from the left of the box that nestled in the far corner.

Cork enjoyed their fair share of possession after they went behind and Shane Duggan had an opportunity to put them level on 74 minutes but he directed his powerful shot directly at Clarke.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Clarke; O'Brien, Browne, Kenna, Bermingham; O'Connor (Russell 78 mins), Forrester, Chambers, Carroll (Coombes 89 mins), Faherty (Kelly 56 mins); Fagan.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Dunleavy, Kavanagh, Murray, Murphy; Turner (O'Neill 67 mins), Healy, Morrissey, Duggan, Horgan; Sullivan (Kenny 70 mins).

Referee: P Tuite(Dub).