General
- Thursday September 28th, 2023 @ 11:45
Match Preview: Saints V Cork City (29/09/23)
The Saints face the first of their two trips to Turners Cross in the space of just nine days when they take on Cork City this Friday evening in the LOI Premier Division.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm, for those not making the journey, this match will be live on LOITV.
No away tickets will be on sale at the ground, all St Patrick's Athletic fans should buy their tickets online HERE in advance, another big crowd is expected to make the trip from Inchicore.
These sides will meet again in FAI Cup semi-final next Sunday, the away end has already sold out, with over 1,000 Saints fans set to travel in the hope of seeing their team secure a place in a second FAI Cup Final in three years.
St Pat's come into this game off the back of a 3-1 win at home to Dundalk on Friday with Tommy Lonergan (twice) and Mason Melia on target and then 2-1 loss against Drogheda United at Richmond Park on Monday, that was just their third defeat in the last 18 games.
Drogheda took an early lead through a Warren Davis goal in the 8th minute. However, just before half-time, Chris Forrester's fantastic footwork gave him a sight at goal, and he struck the ball past Drogheda goalkeeper Andrew Wogan to make it 1-1. In the process, Forrester became the league's outright top goal scorer with 13 goals this campaign, so far.
As the second half went on, the Saints piled on the pressure in order to take the lead and created some good chances, but the ball just wouldn't to go in the net. In the 60th minute, Jake Mulraney received a second yellow card for a tackle on Dayle Rooney, having received the first just 13 minutes earlier.
The Saints didn't give up in their hopes of netting a winner until Dayle Rooney provided the Drogs away fans with one of the goals of the season.
Former St Pat's man Darragh Markey clipped a ball across the edge of the box which found Rooney and he laced the ball, first time, into the top corner.
In the dying embers of the Saints fight to salvage something from the game, they were reduced to nine men but seconds earlier feel they were denied a definite penalty when Luke Heeney kicked Chris Forrester in the box, the ref however booked Forrester for diving and less than minute later, Sam Curtis was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Ryan Brennan and he was given his marching orders with mere seconds left to play.
St Pat's appealed the decision but were unsuccessful and Curtis will now serve a two match ban.
This result leaves Pat's in 3rd place in the league table, one point behind Derry City and six points off Shamrock Rovers in top spot.
OPPOSITION WATCH & RECENT MEETINGS
Cork City are currently in 9th spot in the Premier Division with 27 points from their 31 games, nine points behind Sligo Rovers who are in the relative safety of 8th place, outside the relegation/promotion play-off spot.
The last game for Liam Buckley's men was a 5-0 defeat to Dundalk in Oriel Park on Monday, having been beaten 2-1 at Shelbourne on Friday night.
Hayden Muller put Dundalk 1-0 up, before goals from Daryl Horgan, Sam Durrant and a Cian Coleman own-goal which was followed by a fifth late on from former St Pat's academy player John Martin to end a difficult night for City.
Cork announced this week that Richie Holland will take charge of the First Team for the reminder of the season with Liam Buckley resuming his full-time role as Sporting Director.
The Saints have won two and drawn one of the three games against Cork City so far this season, with two huge meetings to come in the next nine days.
The last game between the sides was a 1-1 draw in Richmond Park in July. Jake Mulraney scored a brilliant opener, before Ruairi Keating scored a 93rd minute equaliser to earn his side a point.
Jon Daly's men first visited Turner’s Cross this season in May, where they earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory. Conor Carty put his side 1-0 up before two quick-fire goals from Tunde Owolabi and Joe O'Brien Whitmarsh put City 2-1 up.
The Saints got their leveller when Jake Mulraney put the ball in the back of the net before an 80th minute Adam Murphy winner sent the away end wild.
The first game between the two teams this season was a 4-0 win for St. Pat's in Richmond Park in April. Goals from Mulraney, Jay McClelland, Jamie Lennon and Mark Doyle secured the three points for the home side in Inchicore.
JON DALY: "A win would be huge"
Saints boss Jon Daly is insistent that the focus of both him and his team is solely on the next game in the league:
'It's another big game and one we are looking forward to in Cork. Our focus is fully on the league game and the three points up for grabs.
We want to get over the disappointment of Monday night against Drogheda and keep ourselves going in the race for Europe in the league.
It’s our fourth league game against Cork and three points would keep us on track if we can get them so a win would be huge.
We're fully prepared and ready to go."
TEAM NEWS:
Tom Grivosti (knee) is out while Sam Curtis and Jake Mulraney are suspended for this game having been sent off against Drogheda on Monday.
TICKETS:
No away tickets will be on sale at the ground, all St Patrick's Athletic fans should buy their tickets online HERE in advance, another big crowd is expected to make the trip from Inchicore.
TV
This match will be live on LOITV.
UPDATES:
As always, updates and our live fan chat can be found on the Official St Pat's FC App - available now for free in both the App Store and Play Store.
Updates will also be available across all the club's social media channels.
Image credit: Sportsfile
