Denis Behan rescued a point for nine-man Cork City in an enthralling end to end encounter at Richmond Park, writes Mark Cummins.
A 38th minute Ryan Guy goal had put Pat’s in front but Behan slotted in the equaliser on 87 with the Pat’s defence at sixes and sevens.
City finished with nine men after Sean Kelly was sent off and sub Darren Murphy limped off with City having used all three subs.
Manager Damien Richardson was also sent off for dissent on a miserable night for City which also saw Joe Gamble go off with a bad looking foot injury.
Guy, who has been in explosive form for Pat’s since making the breakthrough in to the first team, started up front for the home side.
With John O’Flynn injured and Fulham-bound Roy O’Donovan on the bench with a hamstring complaint, City started with a lone striker in the form of Behan in a 4-5-1 formation with the ‘5’ occasionally becoming a 2-3.
The game started in dramatic fashion with Pat’s very nearly going ahead after just 29 seconds.
A long ball from the left found Guy on the wing, he in turn put the ball through to Mark Quigley who knocked it on to Alan Kirby who lashed a low drive just wide of Michael Devine’s right post.
On 11 minutes Kirby turned provider when he put Anthony Murphy in but Murphy’s header went over the bar.
Behan then wasted a perfect opportunity to put City in front on 14 when he pounced on a Darragh Maguire back header but blasted his shot wide of Barry Ryan’s goal.
The action switched immediately to the other end and Devine blocked a super header from Guy who had been put in by live-wire Murphy.
On 21 minutes Billy Gibson found Quigley with a great ball but Quigley sent his effort well over the bar.
It wasn’t all Pat’s though as Leon McSweeney and Colin Healy had efforts on target for City.
St Pat’s always looked more likely to score and that opener finally came on 38 minutes.
Excellent team work culminated in Michael Keane teeing up Guy who made no mistake with his close range effort from inside the box.
City’s task was made harder on 40 minutes when Joe Gamble limped off with what looked like a problem with his right foot, to be replaced by Colin O’Brien.
Gareth Farrelly struck a free kick for City on 45 but Ryan got down to save.
The second half started with Quigley and Guy threatening Devine’s goal again before Behan headed over for City.
Farrelly then struck a long range shot that flew over the top.
Guy showed great skill on 55 when he back heeled the ball to Gibson on the edge of the box but Gibson put too little weight on his subsequent pass to Quigley and the chance was gone as City intercepted.
On 62 minutes Neal Horgan superbly cleared off the line from Quigley after the Pat’s man had intercepted a weak back pass.
City were reduced to ten men on 70 when Sean Kelly was sent off for a tackle on Quigley on the edge of the box. However, the subsequent free kick by Sean O’Connor was wasted.
O’Donovan made an appearance on 76 minutes when he came on for Leon McSweeney.
City then saw Darren Murphy limp-off and with all three subs used they had to finish with nine men.
Against the odds, they then dramatically snatched a draw when Behan took advantage of very poor Pat’s defending to slot past Ryan and into the top left corner.
St Pat’s: Ryan, Brennan, Rogers, Gibson, Maguire, Keane (O‘Connor 44), Kirby, Fahey, Guy, Murphy, M Quigley (Murphy 90)
Cork City: Devine, Horgan, Farrelly, Murray, Gamble (O‘Brien 40), Behan, Lordan, Healy, McSweeney (O‘Donovan 76), Kelly, Kearney (Murphy 72)
Referee: D Hancock
