Cork City (2) - St Patrick's Athletic (0)

Match Report

Cork City 2 - St Patrick's Athletic 0

CORK City clinched their third Enda McGuill U19 FAI Cup trophy in five years with a well deserved victory over St Pat's at a wet and windy Turner's Cross.

Goals from centre-half Conor McCarthy and centre-forward Aaron Drinan from the penalty spot after a goalless first half gave the Leesiders their win and they go to play HJK of Helsinki in the UEFA Youth pathway competition as national cup champions at the end of the month.

The double is on for Cork City and manager Stephen Bermingham now though he will not let his players get too carried away by this latest success.

Irish U19 star Conor McCarthy's glancing header from man of the match Garan Manley's 66th minute corner was the breakthrough the home side were looking for and a second goal five minutes from the end sealed the win.

Winger Chiedozie Ogbene was fouled by Ciaran Kelly in the box after 85 minutes and up stepped Aaron Drinan to covert from 12 yards sending Eric Donnelly the wrong way.

St Pat's had the ball in the net mid-way through the first half but top scorer Aidan Keena was flagged for offside on an afternoon when skipper Fuad Sule volleyed just over before the break.

Rory Feely fired a free kick over on the hour and Steven Kinsella had a long range effort curl outside the far post between the two Cork City goals.

"Overall I felt we fully deserved to win it today. We were well on top in the first half, we created some good chances and we were a little unlucky not to go in at half-time a goal up. In the second half, the goals arrived even though we started off a bit slow but we wrestled control of the game again and scored two fine goals," said City's Stephen Bermingham afterwards.

"I was happy with the way we played, we defended very well and we were well organised and we stuck to the game plan which was important against a good team like St Pat's.

We took our chances when we got them and we got our reward for playing some good attacking football. The first goal was always going to be key in such a tight contest and the second goal from a penalty killed them off," he added.

© fai.ie

Match Info

Date: 11/09/2016
Competition: Under 19s
Round: Final
Venue: Turners Cross

Home Team

David Coffey; Pierce Phillips, Conor McCarthy, Garan Manley, Kevin Taylor; Denzil Fernandes, Cian Coleman (capt), Alec Byrne, Chiedozie Ogbene; Aaron Drinan, Ross Welch (Daire O'Riordan 52). Subs. Eli Khadi Harrington, Liam Cronin, Jordan O'Regan, Patrick Crowley, Adam O'Sullivan & Adam Mylod (not used)

Away Team

Eric Donnelly; Nathan Benson (Troy Carey 55), Rory Feely, Ciaran Kelly, Conor Kane; Fuad Sule (capt); Shane Elworthy, Darragh Markey (Jamie Lennon 80), Jonathan Lunney (William McAdams 80), Steven Kinsella; Aidan Kenna. Subs. Daniel O'Donovan, Steven Grogan, Seven Ball & Lee Doyle (not used)