O'Brien saves day for City

Cork City recovered from a disastrous start to play with real vigour and determination in a lively Eircom League tie at Turner's Cross yesterday.

Cork were unlucky not to claim all three points but they were frustrated by a powerful St Patrick's defence which fought valiantly throughout the second half.

Both teams can take credit for their commitment but in reality they will both be disappointed at taking just one point from a match they needed to win in their bid to qualify for European competition next season.

St Patrick's manager Pat Dolan said: "The match could be divided into three sections: We played very well early on, we were very scrappy in the middle and we fought with real courage to hold on to a point in the end."

Cork's spirited comeback was all the more remarkable given St Patrick's early sparkle, which would have yielded a goal after just four minutes had goalkeeper Phil Harrington not made a spectacular save from Padraig Drew.

St Patrick's were rewarded, however, after just 22 minutes, when a left-wing corner from Trevor Molloy slipped through the hands of Harrington, who was unsighted as Packie Lynch went close to reaching the ball with his head. "Their goal was the wake-up call we needed," said Cork manager Dave Barry. "I was delighted with the way we came back into the match."

Harrington made another great save to deny Gerard McCarthy when the centre forward broke clear early in the second half, but from there on the action was confined to St Patrick's half. Colin O'Brien struck Cork's equalising goal when he turned in a pass from Pat Morley within two minutes of St Patrick's taking the lead.

Cork City: Harrington; O'Halloran, Daly, Coughlan, Napier, C O'Brien, Herrick, Freyne, Cahill, Cotter, Morley. Subs: Caulfield for Cotter (57 mins), Hartigan for Morley (80).

St Patrick's Athletic: Wood; Burke, S McGuinness, Lynch, Doyle, Molloy, Ozam, Russell, Drew, Hawkins, McCarthy. Subs: Croly for Doyle (46), R McGuinness for Drew (53), Hallows for Molloy (70).

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).