Two wins and six goals scored sees St Patrick's Athletic go clear at the top of Setanta Sports Cup Group 2 after a 3-1 win over Cork at Turner's Cross tonight.
Pat's scored after 32 minutes when a headed clearance from Cork defender Sean Kelly only reached visiting striker Gary O'Neill, who fired it back past City goalkeeper Michael Devine.
The visitors struck a brilliant second goal five minutes after the break, with O'Neill's pass finding Alan Kirby who curled a 25 yard shot over Devine.
Cork substitute John O'Flynn pulled a goal back with five minutes left, but the home side's Joe Gamble was sent off in the last minute for bringing down Joseph Ndo after a fine run, O'Neill scored the resulting penalty.
Pat's came into the match in good spirits having won their first league game of the season just 48 hours earlier in Longford on Saturday night.
John McDonnell's side had also picked up three points in their 3-0 win over Portadown in their maiden outing in the Setanta Sports Cup.
Cork had not scored a goal in their two competitive outings, the 1-0 surprise league defeat in Waterford last Friday night, and their scoreless draw in Dungannon in their first Setanta outing.
O'Flynn's strike ended that record but Pat's are looking good for the semi-finals of this competition, and with the new signings settling in quickly, a good season could be on the cards.
Cork City: Devine; Horgan, Ryan, Kelly, Murray; Kearney, Gamble, O'Brien, Woods; Behan, O'Donovan.
Subs: C Lordan for Ryan 59 mins, O'Flynn for Woods 65, Softic for O'Brien 73.
St Patrick's: Ryan; Maguire, Brennan, Foley, Frost; Fahey, Ndo, Kirby, Murphy; O'Neill, M Quigley.
Subs: Rooney for Maguire 65, S Quigley for Murphy 75.
Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).
