Going into Friday night’s clash at Richmond Park St. Patrick’s Athletic knew a win over Cork City and victory for Limerick over Galway would be enough for them to stay up.
Having gone 2-0 down early on to a tap in from Ryan Delaney and a super strike from Kieran Sadlier, and with the champions playing with the swagger and freedom of a side who had achieved their aims for the season, it was, however, looking bleak for the Saints.
St. Pat’s 0-1 Cork City:
12: GOAL!
Pat’s 0-1 Cork.
Ryan Delaney fires in from close range! Bad start for the Saints! #PATSvCORK #LOI pic.twitter.com/homFxW656A
— eirSport (@eirSport) October 20, 2017
St. Pat’s 0-2 Cork City:
19: GOAL!
Pat’s 0-2 Cork.
Kieran Sadlier with one of the goals of the season! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/32NKueJLGO
— eirSport (@eirSport) October 20, 2017
However, two first-half goals from Jordi Balk and Billy Dennehy got Liam Buckley’s men back into the game and at half-time it was anyone’s guess who would come away with the three points.
St. Pat’s 1-2 Cork City:
25: GOAL!
St Pat’s 1-2 Cork City.
Jordi Balk heads one back for the Saints! #PATSvCORK #LOI pic.twitter.com/BQbSkxtKH6
— eirSport (@eirSport) October 20, 2017
St. Pat’s 2-2 Cork City:
42: GOAAAAAAAL!!!!
St Pat’s 2-2 Cork City!
Billy Dennehy finishes a quality move for a HUGE equaliser for the Saints! #PATSvCORK #LOI pic.twitter.com/KbEr1Vn5m7
— eirSport (@eirSport) October 20, 2017
With all the pressure on Pat’s to secure the three points, however, they flew out of the traps in the second half and put it up to Cork City. Rekindling the kind of play they have become known for over the last few years the Dubliners finished off a nine-pass move to take the lead through their skipper Ian Bermingham.
St. Pat’s 3-2 Cork City:
64: GOAAAALL!!!!!!
St Pat’s 3-2 Cork City!
The captain Ian Bermingham with possibly a HUGE goal! What a comeback! #PATSvCORK #LOI pic.twitter.com/ruAObmkBG0
— eirSport (@eirSport) October 20, 2017
The comeback was completed after a bit of trickery down the left from goalscorer Dennehy. His perfectly-weighted cross into Kurtis Byrne was expertly finished to send the Inchicore faithful into raptures.
St. Pat’s 4-2 Cork City:
78: GOAL GOAL GOAL!
St Pat’s 4-2 Cork City!
What a header from Kurtis Byrne! Richmond is rocking! #PATSvCORK #LOI pic.twitter.com/QqFzAFv3af
— eirSport (@eirSport) October 20, 2017