Conor Drinan and Hans Mpongo blow Athlone Town away as Cork City win on the road

Athlone Town 0 Cork City 3 

Three wins on the trot, nine points clear at the top of the table, and a game in hand still to come.

Hopes of a Premier Division return look oh so rosy once more for Cork City. That blip in form is now a distant sight in rearview mirror, and they can be very pleased with this one.

Barry Robson’s charges successfully navigated Athlone Town away from home on Friday evening, with Conor Drinan netting his second stunner of the season and third goal of the campaign, while Hans Mpongo followed up with a brace, his second strike coming from a spot kick.

It was a flat first half and scoreless at the break. The only real talking point was who wasn't on the pitch for City – no Seani Maguire, no Josh Fitzpatrick. Matters were made worse when Ruairi Keating had to be withdrawn early.

And yet, without their most prolific striker, without their liveliest wing back, and having lost another notable forward – City coped just fine.

And they did so with rampant second-half performances from their goalscorers, Drinan and Mpongo. The pair were unrelenting.

The first goal arrived in the 50th minute, Drinan playing a one-two with Mpongo before receiving the return pass and launching it from outside the box and into the top corner.

It only took eight minutes for the visitors to grab their second goal, Drinan setting up Mpongo on this occasion with a superb cross, and the City forward had all the space he needed to head home from point-blank range.

Matthew Murray had a close-range shot blocked in the 61st minute that threatened, but for a period after the goals, City struggled. Then, out of the blue, it all kicked off in a matter of minutes.

The teams traded chances as the game opened up, Cillian Tollett racing through in the 76th minute only to be denied by excellent defending from Charlie Lyons, the best of the three in City’s watertight defence.

Lyons would be called upon again two minutes later, clearing a Brian McManus’ effort off the line with a header. Then, it was City’s turn to romp forward, Mpongo squandering a brilliant opportunity on the counter, before Tallott would do the same at the other end in that very same minute, as Conor Brann stopped the shot.

In the 81st minute, City would get their second, after Evan O’Connor was harshly penalised for a foul on Drinan, and referee Ryan Maher pointed to the spot. Brendan Clarke got a touch but couldn’t keep Mpongo’s effort out, and City stretched their advantage to three.

Athlone nearly netted a consolation a minute from time when Tallott raced down the flank and placed his shot perfectly for the far corner, but Brann got down quickly for a superb intervention.

It was in stark contrast to the first half, where chances for both outfits were limited. Mpongo had an opportunity on 23 minutes but O’Connor did well to intervene as the Athlone defence coped well with the Dutchman’s danger, Crawford also intervening to deny Mpongo in that opening period.

But they would be quickly undone on the restart, as City’s quality told.

ATHLONE TOWN (4-3-3): Clarke; Kehir, O’Connor, Crawford, O’Connor; Maloney, Cleary (Considine 85), McManus; Adewale (Grogan 68), Lomboto (Lyons 85), Ferry (Tollett 67).

CORK CITY (3-4-1-2): Brann; Lyons, Kelleher, Feely; Nevin, Bolger (Bridge 71), Crowley, Drinan; Murphy (O’Keeffe 62); Mpongo, Keating (Murray 37 inj).

Referee: R Maher