CORK CITY AND Shamrock Rovers — for the second time this season — played out a scoreless draw tonight in front of a crowd of 4,138 at Turner’s Cross.
It was a disappointing contest between the second and third-placed teams in the Premier Division, characterised by stray passes and a lack of inventiveness in attack.
Although Rovers have a game in hand, City remain four points clear of the Tallaght outfit in second place, but they came closest to snatching the victory when Garry Buckley saw a header strike the crossbar late on.
Rovers made one change in personnel from their last league outing — a 3-2 win over Longford Town — with Ryan Brennan returning in place of Danny North. City, who were 1-0 winners against Limerick last time out in the league, were unchanged.
The first-half was uneventful, to put it mildly. Cork City had the edge in terms of possession but it was the visitors who looked more likely to score. Billy Dennehy’s third-minute free-kick, which went harmlessly wide, was the home side’s only attempt on goal during the opening 45 minutes.
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Rovers had the best chance of the first-half in the ninth minute when Keith Fahey’s cross from the right found the head of Ryan Brennan, but his effort went straight at Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty.
Brennan shot wide from just inside the box in the 14th minute after Gavan Holohan had coughed up possession, and City fans breathed a sigh of relief three minutes later when McNulty almost let a Brandon Miele shot slip through his hands.
Miele sent a free-kick off target in the 37th minute, before Mikey Drennan struck the side netting just shy of the half-time whistle, having been set up by a pin-point long pass from Miele.
Nine minutes after the restart, the Hoops threatened again. Drennan teed up Simon Madden but his close-range shot was denied by a vital Darren Dennehy block.
Dennehy almost made an equally important contribution at the opposite end moments later. A corner from the right, taken by his brother Billy, was headed back across the face of the Rovers goal by Mark O’Sullivan, but Darren Dennehys’s header went straight at goalkeeper Craig Hyland. After 58 minutes, it was City’s first effort on target.
The Leesiders had penalty claims waved away by referee Paul Tuite in the 63rd minute when O’Sullivan went down after appearing to have had his shirt pulled by Conor Kenna.
Cork City almost found a winning goal with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Colin Healy’s free-kick from the left reached substitute Garry Buckley but his header crashed off the crossbar.
Rovers had a penalty claim of their own turned down in added time when Maxime Blanchard went to ground after a corner. Again, the referee took no notice of the appeals and signalled the end of the game seconds later.
The result does little for either side, with leaders Dundalk now six points clear of City at the top — with a game in hand still to come — while Rovers are 10 points adrift of the champions.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Kevin O’Connor; Colin Healy, Liam Miller; Billy Dennehy (Ross Gaynor, 81), Gavan Holohan (Garry Buckley, 65), Karl Sheppard (Rob Lehane, 81); Mark O’Sullivan.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Maxime Blanchard, Luke Byrne; Paddy Cregg, Keith Fahey; Gavin Brennan, Ryan Brennan (Gary McCabe, 86), Brandon Miele; Mikey Drennan (Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, 77).
City and Rovers share the spoils but fall even further behind the leaders
Cork City 0
Shamrock Rovers 0
CORK CITY AND Shamrock Rovers — for the second time this season — played out a scoreless draw tonight in front of a crowd of 4,138 at Turner’s Cross.
It was a disappointing contest between the second and third-placed teams in the Premier Division, characterised by stray passes and a lack of inventiveness in attack.
Although Rovers have a game in hand, City remain four points clear of the Tallaght outfit in second place, but they came closest to snatching the victory when Garry Buckley saw a header strike the crossbar late on.
Rovers made one change in personnel from their last league outing — a 3-2 win over Longford Town — with Ryan Brennan returning in place of Danny North. City, who were 1-0 winners against Limerick last time out in the league, were unchanged.
The first-half was uneventful, to put it mildly. Cork City had the edge in terms of possession but it was the visitors who looked more likely to score. Billy Dennehy’s third-minute free-kick, which went harmlessly wide, was the home side’s only attempt on goal during the opening 45 minutes.
Rovers had the best chance of the first-half in the ninth minute when Keith Fahey’s cross from the right found the head of Ryan Brennan, but his effort went straight at Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty.
Brennan shot wide from just inside the box in the 14th minute after Gavan Holohan had coughed up possession, and City fans breathed a sigh of relief three minutes later when McNulty almost let a Brandon Miele shot slip through his hands.
Miele sent a free-kick off target in the 37th minute, before Mikey Drennan struck the side netting just shy of the half-time whistle, having been set up by a pin-point long pass from Miele.
Nine minutes after the restart, the Hoops threatened again. Drennan teed up Simon Madden but his close-range shot was denied by a vital Darren Dennehy block.
Dennehy almost made an equally important contribution at the opposite end moments later. A corner from the right, taken by his brother Billy, was headed back across the face of the Rovers goal by Mark O’Sullivan, but Darren Dennehys’s header went straight at goalkeeper Craig Hyland. After 58 minutes, it was City’s first effort on target.
The Leesiders had penalty claims waved away by referee Paul Tuite in the 63rd minute when O’Sullivan went down after appearing to have had his shirt pulled by Conor Kenna.
Cork City almost found a winning goal with seven minutes of normal time remaining. Colin Healy’s free-kick from the left reached substitute Garry Buckley but his header crashed off the crossbar.
Rovers had a penalty claim of their own turned down in added time when Maxime Blanchard went to ground after a corner. Again, the referee took no notice of the appeals and signalled the end of the game seconds later.
The result does little for either side, with leaders Dundalk now six points clear of City at the top — with a game in hand still to come — while Rovers are 10 points adrift of the champions.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Kevin O’Connor; Colin Healy, Liam Miller; Billy Dennehy (Ross Gaynor, 81), Gavan Holohan (Garry Buckley, 65), Karl Sheppard (Rob Lehane, 81); Mark O’Sullivan.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Maxime Blanchard, Luke Byrne; Paddy Cregg, Keith Fahey; Gavin Brennan, Ryan Brennan (Gary McCabe, 86), Brandon Miele; Mikey Drennan (Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, 77).
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Man-of-the-match: Keith Fahey.
The season is only two months old but Dundalk have effectively ended Pat’s faint title chances
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SSE Airtricity League Premier Division LOI Cork City Shamrock Rovers top table