SEAN MAGUIRE’S PENALTY just after the hour mark was enough to give Cork City a vital away victory in the first leg of their Europa League first qualifying round clash with Linfield at a wet Windsor Park.
The key moment came when Stephen Dooley was brought down by Stephen Lowry in the area and the 22-year-old striker made no mistake from the spot – sending the ball right down the middle as Roy Carroll – making his debut for the Northerners – dived to his left.
It had been a tight affair up to that point with both sides carving out some chances.
An early Ross Gaynor free-kick was tipped over by Mark McNulty while Carroll did well to deal with a decent effort from Karl Sheppard at the other end.
But the hosts should’ve taken the lead before the break when Paul Smyth was left unmarked at the far post following a corner but couldn’t hit the target with the goal at his mercy.
The Leesiders took control once going ahead though and almost doubled their lead with 20 minutes left when Kenny Browne’s header was cleared off the line by Lowry – who went from villain to hero.
John Caulfield’s side continued to push as full-time edged closer and Carroll was forced to make an excellent save from Kevin O’Connor’s well-struck volley.
City failed to grab a second but they still have the edge ahead of next Thursday’s return leg at Turner’s Cross.
Linfield XI: Caroll, Stafford, Haughey, Waterworth (c), Lowry, Millar (R. Clarke, 84′), Mulgrew (Key, 56′), Glendinning, Quinn, Gaynor, Smyth (Burns, 72′).
Subs (not used): Deane (GK), McLellan, M. Clarke, Murray,
Cork City XI: McNulty, Bennett, Bolger (c), Beattie, Dooley, O’Connor, G. Morrissey, Sheppard (D. Morrissey, 45′), Browne, Maguire (Healy, 89′), Buckley (O’Sullivan, 59′).
Subs (not used): Coffey (GK), Holohan, McSweeney, Turner.
Referee: Bart Vertenten (BEL)
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Wife? 21? Really?
The wags are getting them locked down young
When I was 21 I was blowing shit up in the microwave ala Ian Henderson in a student house
Anthony Martial is married with two kids at 19. She knew…
Coutinho been married since he was 19 too I believe.
Check her out, she’s an absolute lasher. I’d be wifing that at 21 as well.
Image of Bale
Let’s hope he will be as good as Bale !
They say supposedly there’s around 7 people in the world who look exactly like you..
Yip. Lucky enough that mine is Ryan Gosling
:D
He’d make more money as an impersonator
Or even league one. Being on the books at a top prem club then going to league two is a massive drop down
And probably offers us an insight into the actual level that this fella is at. He’s not going to league 2 for any other reason than he didn’t have any other options. He might rebound in a few years but I’ve a feeling that looking like Bale will be as close to a top footballer that he may ever be and I mean that as no slight against him, the odds of making it at the top level of football are in the high millions.
Jamie Vardy. ….
Surely he could have been picked up by a championship club rather than having to drop down to league 2
Why would that be?
You would think that. But here we are.
And york city are in last place
Plot twist, Kenny is actually playing for Madrid and Bale is off to the metropolis of York.
So it was Kenny who got Wales to euro 2016!!!
Give him time, Alan Judge was in a similar situation when Blackburn. Now PL teams are interested in signing him.
Hope ha can play like bale