City slaughter Saints to book a ticket to Lansdowne Road

📷 KBD Photos

It was a colossal clash at the Cross on Friday night as Cork City hosted St Patrick’s Athletic in the first of two Sports Direct FAI Cup semi-finals. It was a legendary night as City ran out 3-0 winners over Stephen Kenny's side to send the Leesiders to their first FAI Cup final since 2018.

Ger Nash switched to a five at the back for this one, bringing in Charlie Lyons, Greg Bolger and Kitt Nelson, with Fiacre Kelleher, Kaedyn Kamara and Matthew Kiernan dropping out.

Kenny made two changes from his side's narrow loss in Sligo last time out. Barry Baggley and Axel Sjoberg fell to the bench, being replaced by Chris Forrester and Ryan McLaughlin.

The hosts got off to a fast start with City going close after four minutes. Josh Fitzpatrick won the ball high up the pitch with Evan McLaughlin breaking forward and sliding it left to Fitzpatrick. He rolled the ball across the box where it fell to Alex Nolan at the back post, but his first time shot was saved at close range by Joey Anang.

City’s good beginning to the match paid dividends as they took the lead in the tenth minute. A long ball over the top from Freddie Anderson found the run of Seani Maguire, who flicked the ball past the onrushing Anang, before shifting past a sliding Joe Redmond and rolling the ball into an empty net to give City an early advantage.

Pats did get a foothold back in the game and got close to an equaliser in the twenty first minute. A skillful one-two between Power and McClelland allowed the latter to find Kian Leavy at the edge of the box. Leavy released a thunderous effort from outside the box whistling narrowly over the bar.

The visitors threatened the City backline again two minutes later. Simon Power’s cross was cleared to Jamie Lennon at the edge of the box. Lennon shifted it left to Jay McClelland. The winger sent a deflected effort looping marginally over the bar.

City held out against the Pats fightback for the remainder of the half and headed into the break a goal to the good.  

City began the second half the far better side and could’ve doubled their lead in the fifty sixth minute. Alex Nolan kickstarted a counter attack, bombing down the right wing before cutting inside. His loose touch deflected off a Pats defender, falling into the path of Kitt Nelson, but his effort didn't trouble Joey Anang.

Anang was troubled fourteen minutes later though, as City’s lead grew to two. Darragh Crowley picked up the ball on the right hand side and beat Kian Leavy, before advancing and slipping the ball down the right channel for Evan McLaughlin to chase. Evan got there and fired a right footed effort past Anang at his near post to shake Turner’s Cross.

The Derryman wasn't quite finished yet though, as he bagged his second and City’s third a minute later. A long ball forward was brilliantly taken by Seani Maguire, who turned and drove forward before playing a pass through towards Evan McLaughlin. The pass came off the knee of the backtracking Joe Redmond, where it then found McLaughlin, who took aim and fired a low shot into the bottom right corner to cause yet more mayhem around the ground.

Pats limply tried to claw themselves back in the game, with their best chance coming two minutes after the third goal. Jamie Lennon tried to curl an effort into the top right corner, but the shot could only land on the roof of the net.

Ultimately it wasn't to be for the Saints, as the referee blew for full time to send City through to a cup final. We all now find ourselves in the most bizarre of circumstances as despite yet another relegation looming over the fanbase, we now have a huge day out to look forward to, as we finally head back to Lansdowne Road to take on either Kerry or Shamrock. It was a win that was thoroughly deserved as City completely outplayed Pats on the night. It came off as if they came down expecting to be handed the win, but they were hugely mistaken. They instead faced an inspired City performance that, as amazing as it was, it almost leaves you wondering where that's been for the season. It's a win and a day out that the fanbase deserves, and November 9th will be marked in the diary.

My Man of the Match goes to Seani Maguire. You could justify giving it to a good five or six City players, but to me Maguire was the standout. He rolled it back to 2017 with his exceptional hold up play and brought the rest of his team into the game really well. He took his goal brilliantly and overall had his best game in a City shirt since rejoining.

City will have to take their momentum into the league as they’ll try to delay the inevitable by beating Shels on Monday the 13th of October. As for St Pats, they face Shamrock in Richmond Park on that Friday.