City lose to Pats despite encouraging first half performance

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It was a return to Turner’s Cross for Cork City after they came back empty handed from the long trip to the Brandywell, where Derry came out 2-1 winners thanks to two second half goals from the home side. The Rebel Army were looking to turn their recent form around, but they were facing their first of many games without Ruairi Keating, after Tim Clancy confirmed the striker will be out for six to nine months after rupturing his achilles.

There was just one change to the City team that took the field in the Brandywell, with the injured Ruairi Keating being replaced by Freddie Anderson. Tim Clancy reverted back to the five at the back, similar to the approach taken away to Shelbourne.

As for Pats, they also made one change from the side that were held to a scoreless draw at home to Shelbourne, with Jake Mulraney dropping to the bench and Jay McClelland starting on the wing.

City started brightly early on and went close to taking the lead in the seventh minute. Benny Couto’s inswinging corner found Milan Mbeng unmarked in the box, who headed it down off the ground and the ball bounced just over the bar.

City continued their positive start and again came close to taking the lead in the twenty third minute. Alex Nolan drove down the right wing before rolling it back to Darragh Crowley, who swung in a cross. His cross went over everyone in the box before falling to Benny Couto in space at the back post, but his effort hit the side netting.

Despite the home side's early chances, it was the visitors who took the lead two minutes before half time. Chris Forrester played a one two with Jay McClelland on the edge of the left side of the City box. Forrester proceeded to unleash an effort that took a deflection off Milan Mbeng before nestling in the top right corner to give Pats the lead.

Stephen Kenny’s side weren’t done, and doubled their lead in the second minute of additional time in the first half.  A long ball was headed away by Charlie Lyons, Brandon Kavangh picked the ball up in midfield, set himself and released a low driven strike from thirty yards into the bottom right corner to give the visitors a two goal cushion.

City came out of the break looking to find a way back into the game, and almost did just that with half an hour to play. After being denied what looked to have been a stonewall penalty, a Milan Mbeng cross bounced in the box before arriving to Benny Couto at the back post, whose shot stung the palms of Joey Anang.

Pats were looking for a third, and almost did in spectacular fashion less than a minute later. Chris Forrester received the ball at the edge of the box before beautifully dinking the ball over the top to an open Jay McClelland, but his shot forced a good reaction save from Tein Troost to keep the game at 2-0.

Pats kept pushing and were denied again in the seventy first minute. Brandon Kavangah stepped up to take a free kick from the edge of the box, and forced a brilliant save from Tein Troost. Pats got a shot away from the resulting corner, but it was blocked on the line by Charlie Lyons.

Speaking of Lyons, it was him that went close to cutting the deficit with five minutes to go. Benny Couto swung in a corner that met the head of Lyons at the front post, but Lyons guided his header to the wrong side of the left hand post.

That was the last action of the game, as St Pats took away all three points from Turner’s Cross. Despite the scoreline, City caused Pats problems, especially in the first half. Pats seemed to get more comfortable in the second half debut even still, City gave them a bit of work to do. Ultimately though, the lack of a goalscorer really killed them as they couldn't make their intermittent spells of dominance in the first half count.

As for Pats, I thought they were fairly underwhelming. They struggled to penetrate City in the first half, and other than a deflected goal and a great strike from Kavanagh, they didn't look particularly threatening without Aidan Keena. In the second half though, they looked far more comfortable and they were aware of the lack of threat that City had without Ruairi Keating and Seani Maguire.

My Man of the Match goes to Chris Forrester. Cathal O’Sullivan is a close second, but ultimately Forrester’s experience was evident throughout the game. He was able to control the midfield for the majority of the game and was constantly on the ball trying to make things happen for Pats. Were Greg Bolger to have been playing, I think he would've had a lot less freedom, but that's a hypothetical.

City have a quick turnaround as they face Shamrock in Tallaght on monday in the rescheduled fixture after the original fixture was postponed for a waterlogged pitch thirty minutes before kick off. As for Pats, they'll play on Friday as they also play Shamrock in Richmond Park.