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It was a case off groundhog day for O'Donovan as this was the second time in a week that he had won and scored from the spot himself against one of the top sides and underlined his importance to Cork. This was his 12th goal of the season and his seventh in the league.
The 2 sides were well organised and matched until the clinical moment in the 68th minute. Pats lost Alan Kirby who had to withdraw with an injury sustained in the warm-up but they had the better of the early exchanges set up by Keith Fahey in the midfield.
Saints missd a couple of opportunities as Mark Quigley overhit his pass to strike partner Gary O'Neill when the Cork defence were outnumbered, and Ndo had a shot fell just wide of Mick Devine's goal after a quick counter led by Stephen Brennan and Fahey.
Cork grew in confidence although a free kick on the edge of the Pats area saw them lose the ball which presented the Saints with a swift counter-attack. It ended with a Fahey cross which needed Cork stopper Devine to touch away from the goal. The League leaders were unable to score a goal against Cork after going a goal and a man down. Drogheda United could be knock them off the top on Friday night.
Cork City: Devine, Horgan, O'Callaghan, Murray, Ryan, O'Brien, Softic, Gamble, Kearney (Woods, 60), Behan (O'Flynn, 87), O'Donovan.
St Patrick's Athletic: Ryan, Brennan, Maguire, Paisley; Frost, Ndo, Mulcahy (S. Quigley, 45), Fahey, Murphy, M. Quigley (Foley, 69), O'Neill (O'Connor, 87).