CORK CITY AND Dundalk again shared the spoils in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game at Turner’s Cross.
The final game of the season at Turner’s Cross was expected to be a dress rehearsal ahead of the two sides’ FAI Cup Final on 8 November, but there was no lack of intensity in an absorbing game on Leeside.
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In an enthralling first half, the visitors gained, and then lost a two-goal advantage within 40 minutes. It took them just nine of those to break the deadlock, when a badly defended free-kick fell to the feet of David McMillan to knock home from close range.
Richie Towell was contentiously booked for a late tackle on Liam Miller, but showed the classier side of his game 25 minutes in, as he rifled home Ronan Finn’s layoff for the second.
The hosts have been guilty of poor starts against their future FAI Cup Final opponents in the past, but hit right back three minutes later, as Karl Sheppard latched on to a through ball by Ross Gaynor to square for the oncoming Mark O’Sullivan to nick one at the near post.
City’s backs were up from that point, and they found the equaliser six minutes before the break as a corner to the back-post dropped onto the head of Sheppard to head home.
Mark O’Sullivan had a golden chance to win the game on the whistle, but a brilliant save from Gary Rodgers ensured a stalemate ahead of the Aviva showdown in a fortnight.
Cork fight back to earn point in FAI Cup final dress rehearsal
Dundalk 2
Cork 2
CORK CITY AND Dundalk again shared the spoils in their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division game at Turner’s Cross.
The final game of the season at Turner’s Cross was expected to be a dress rehearsal ahead of the two sides’ FAI Cup Final on 8 November, but there was no lack of intensity in an absorbing game on Leeside.
In an enthralling first half, the visitors gained, and then lost a two-goal advantage within 40 minutes. It took them just nine of those to break the deadlock, when a badly defended free-kick fell to the feet of David McMillan to knock home from close range.
Richie Towell was contentiously booked for a late tackle on Liam Miller, but showed the classier side of his game 25 minutes in, as he rifled home Ronan Finn’s layoff for the second.
The hosts have been guilty of poor starts against their future FAI Cup Final opponents in the past, but hit right back three minutes later, as Karl Sheppard latched on to a through ball by Ross Gaynor to square for the oncoming Mark O’Sullivan to nick one at the near post.
City’s backs were up from that point, and they found the equaliser six minutes before the break as a corner to the back-post dropped onto the head of Sheppard to head home.
Mark O’Sullivan had a golden chance to win the game on the whistle, but a brilliant save from Gary Rodgers ensured a stalemate ahead of the Aviva showdown in a fortnight.
Cork City: McNulty; McSweeney, Dunleavy, Murray, Gaynor; Kearney (B. Dennehy 54′), O’Connor, Miller, Beattie (O’Flynn 80′), Sheppard; O’Sullivan.
Dundalk FC: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Mountney (Maguire 82′), Towell, Shields (Poynton 65′), Horgan; Finn; McMillan (Kilduff 70′).
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Comeback League of Ireland LOI success Cork City Dundalk