Cork City 1

St Patrick’s Athletic 1

CORK CITY MAINTAINED their unbeaten home record as Josh O’Hanlon scored a late equaliser against St Patrick’s Athletic at Turner’s Cross, but the dropped points were a major blow to their hopes of retaining the league title.

Sub O’Hanlon was on hand in the 83rd minute to head home Gearóid Morrissey’s cross, but a winner remained elusive for John Caulfield’s side, who are now level on points with Dundalk but have two more games played.

A draw was much as the Rebel Army deserved as Pat’s had a better quality of chances. They might have had the opener in the first half when Dean Clarke’s shot was parried by Mark McNulty but Ryan Brennan shot over with the rebound.

City pressed more early in the second half but Pat’s were ahead on 53 minutes, Clarke netting his second attempt following McNulty’s save after Achille Campion had helped on Conan Byrne’s free kick.

Byrne was unlucky not to make it two as his header from Clarke’s cross drew a good McNulty save. O’Hanlon and Morrissey were brought on for City as John Caulfield switched to a 4-4-2 and, while O’Hanlon headed a Shane Griffin cross wide on 80, he had better luck three minutes later, meeting Morrissey’s cross at the near post.

CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie (John Dunleavy 78), Damien Delaney, Seán McLoughlin, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack (Gearóid Morrissey 63), Jimmy Keohane (Josh O’Hanlon 63); Karl Sheppard, Garry Buckley, Kieran Sadlier; Graham Cummins.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Brendan Clarke; Simon Madden, Lee Desmond, Kevin Toner, Ian Bermingham; Jamie Lennon, Conor Clifford; Conan Byrne, Ryan Brennan (Killian Brennan 90), Dean Clarke (Darragh Markey 73); Achille Campion (Ian Turner 70).

Referee: Robert Hennessy (Clare).

The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!