Match Preview

vs CORK CITY
League
Thursday, May 3rd
8:00pm
Turners Cross

THE margin between success and failure is a thin one. For Cork City right now, it comes in the form of Roy O'Donovan.

In his absence on Monday night, the Leesiders squandered a host of opportunities to crash out of the Setanta Sports Cup at the hands of Linfield.

Last night, O'Donovan was back and while the hosts were nowhere near as dominant as they had been against the Northerners, the 21-year-old was in the right place to deliver the decisive contribution midway through the second half.

It looked relatively innocuous when Cork full back Darragh Ryan hoisted a hopeful ball up field but with the aid of a deflection it fell into the path of the striker whose blistering pace left Stephen Paisley with no option but to haul him down.

The St Patrick's Athletic defender was sent off while O'Donovan dusted himself down and duly dispatched the spot-kick into the top corner for his 12th of the season in all competitions.

It was probably his most important one also, given that this truly was a must-win game for Cork who had slipped nine points off the pace.

It may be early days but they can't afford to allow the leaders get any further out of sight.

This is a City side short on strength and depth in the continued absence of close season signings Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly, who will be absent until July unless the PFAI can have success fighting for their eligibility.

The early exchanges in front of a healthy crowd were high on endeavour but low on noteworthy goalscoring chances.

Pat's had suffered a blow before kick off when Alan Kirby was injured in the pre-match warm-up but despite the setback they more than held their own in the opening period.

All the same, they had some defending to do with O'Donovan firing wide in the 25th minute after out muscling Stephen Brennan, although it was an illegal challenge as far as the Dubliners were concerned.

The locals were crying unfair six minutes later when O'Donovan claimed to have been shoved off the ball in the area by Paisley but referee Dave McKeon played on, much to the disgust of an incandescent Damien Richardson. Ironic enough considering what would unfold later.

It was the visitors that came closest to breaking the deadlock with 40 minutes on the clock in a move started by a superb challenge by Brennan on Joe Gamble.

The defender subsequently charged forward and released Joseph Ndo who exchanged passes with Keith Fahey before fizzing a low attempt inches wide of the post.

There were periods when it seemed as though the inefficiency of the product in the final third would cost Richardson's charges. Along came O'Donovan to change all of that.

The game ended in bizarre fashion with Saints boss John McDonnell charging onto the pitch to support his 'keeper Barry Ryan who had felt the full force of some vicious teasing from sections of the partisan Turner's Cross crowd. This battle had gone against the Dubliners, but the war will continue.

© Irish Independent

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
October, 3rd 2025	FAI Cup	Cork City	3	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
June, 27th 2025	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
April, 11th 2025	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
October, 8th 2023	FAI Cup	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
September, 29th 2023	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
May, 5th 2023	League	Cork City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
August, 27th 2021	FAI Cup	Cork City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
October, 3rd 2020	League	Cork City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
August, 2nd 2019	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
April, 12th 2019	League	Cork City	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
September, 19th 2026	League	Sligo Rovers	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
September, 14th 2026	League	Dundalk	0	St Patrick's Athletic	4	REPORT
August, 21st 2026	League	Drogheda United	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
August, 9th 2026	League	Shelbourne	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
July, 10th 2026	League	Waterford	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
June, 30th 2026	Leinster Senior Cup	Bray Wanderers	2	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
June, 26th 2026	League	Bohemians	2	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
May, 29th 2026	League	Shamrock Rovers	1	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
May, 26th 2026	Leinster Senior Cup	Dundalk	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
May, 22nd 2026	League	Derry City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
October, 3rd 2025	FAI Cup	Cork City	3	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
September, 22nd 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Cork City	0	REPORT
June, 27th 2025	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	0	REPORT
May, 16th 2025	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Cork City	2	REPORT
April, 11th 2025	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
October, 8th 2023	FAI Cup	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
September, 29th 2023	League	Cork City	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
July, 7th 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Cork City	1	REPORT
May, 5th 2023	League	Cork City	2	St Patrick's Athletic	3	REPORT
April, 7th 2023	League	St Patrick's Athletic	4	Cork City	0	REPORT

Date	Competition	Home Team		Away Team
September, 19th 2026	League	Sligo Rovers	0	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
September, 14th 2026	League	Dundalk	0	St Patrick's Athletic	4	REPORT
September, 11th 2026	League	St Patrick's Athletic	2	Shamrock Rovers	0	REPORT
August, 28th 2026	League	St Patrick's Athletic	0	Waterford	2	REPORT
August, 21st 2026	League	Drogheda United	0	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
August, 9th 2026	League	Shelbourne	1	St Patrick's Athletic	2	REPORT
August, 2nd 2026	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Derry City	1	REPORT
July, 24th 2026	League	St Patrick's Athletic	1	Dundalk	1	REPORT
July, 10th 2026	League	Waterford	1	St Patrick's Athletic	1	REPORT
July, 3rd 2026	League	St Patrick's Athletic	3	Galway United	0	REPORT