Cork City 7
Athlone Town 0
Denis Hurley reports from Turner’s Cross.
PREMIER DIVISION LEADERS Cork City’s double hopes remain firmly alive after an easy victory over Athlone Town booked their place in the FAI Cup on Friday night.
In front of 1,669 people at Turner’s Cross, the Rebel Army hit their stride right from the off as Kieran Sadlier headed home Karl Sheppard’s cross and the pattern of the game never changed thereafter.
It was 2-0 on ten minutes, Sheppard finishing smartly from Robbie William’s ball over the top and another defender, Shane Griffin, was the architect for Connor Ellis to make it three on the half-hour.
Further chances followed and in injury time Garry Buckley netted, Sheppard again with the assist. That was Buckley’s last action as he was withdrawn at half-time, Achille Campion replacing him and the French striker was to play a prominent role in the second half.
After Athlone keeper Igor Labuts tipped over a Sadlier curler on 60, Campion headed home Griffin’s delivery from a corner and it Labuts’ save from another Campion header saw Ellis net the rebound for 6-0.
At the very end, the seventh goal came, Campion with his second after Sadlier set him up.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie, Robbie Williams (Pierce Phillips, 67′), Ryan Delaney (Conor McCarthy half-time), Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Garry Buckley (Achille Campion half-time), Karl Sheppard, Jimmy Keohane, Kieran Sadlier; Connor Ellis.
Athlone Town: Igor Labuts; Liam McCartan, Owen Folan, Stephen Walsh, Seán McGrane; Dragos Sfrijan, Robert Spelman (Claudio Silva half-time); Conor Layng, Ryan Gaffey (Joe Carmody 56), Etanda Nkololo; Enda Curran (Peter Walsh 74).
Referee: Robert Hennessy (Dublin).
Around The Grounds
Cabinteely 0
Bluebell United 1
Elsewhere, there was a huge shock in Stradbrook as Bluebell United knocked out First Division Cabinteely.
Shane Stritch found the net in the first half and it proved the only goal of the game as 10-man Bluebell, who had former Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Fahey sent-off for a tackle on Kieran Marty Waters, held firm in spite of some fierce pressure in the second period and progress to the next round.
Bangor Celtic 0
Longford Town 1
Crumlin’s Bangor Celtic very nearly pulled off another surprise as they welcomed Longford Town to the Iveagh Grounds.
They held Neale Fenn’s side scoreless for 71 minutes before substitute Don Cowan wriggled free of a couple of tackles before powering his shot beyond Stephen Conlon in the Bangor goal.
Drogheda United 5
Cobh Wanderers 0
And at United Park, Drogheda easily swept aside the challenge of Cork outfit Cobh Wanderers.
Shane Elworthy scored twice in the first-half before Chris Mulhall added a brace in the second period.
David Stack pulled one back for the guests but Thomas Byrne added another for the hosts in stoppage time.
Additional reporting by Eoin O’Callaghan.
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“Let’s see how they do without Seani Maguire” they said …..
@Jah: not too bad without Seanie i said!
@Jah: Congrats you beat a team by the same score line that Longford did last week…. woohoo
@Jah: Longford were 3 up after 13 minutes last week as well so Athlone are in a seriously bad way.
@Jah: big massive smile
@Keith Ryan: begrudgers at it again,jealousy is awful
@billy Dorney: fair play Billy
@Jah: know jah they have to face it we’re just fabulous
@billy Dorney: doubtcha Billy :)
@Nollaig Elliot: doubtcha back Nollaig
“And At united park reigning league champions drogheda united”
Seriously lads ffs
@Stephen McEvoy: was 5-1 to..
@Keith Ryan: And I don’t think Stephen Kenny was in charge either.
Denis hurley if you are going to write an article at least be factually correct. Drogheda reigning league champions are they? At what? Dundalk are indeed reigning league champions and have been for the past 3 seasons.
@Niall Hearty: Easy mistake, 2 teams at the same standard, from the same region and beginning with D
@running man: same standard? I think drogheda and cork are at same standard.. only a couple of league titles between them. Dundalk have more honours than the two of them combined.. and journalists should research their story correctly should they not? It’s a bit like saying Ireland is still part of Britain!
@Niall Hearty: whining Dundalk tripe raises it’s head again,DOWN BOY you’re in the company of ccfc supporters ,know them? Support the best team/manager/fans/ground in Ireland
@running man: v good
@billy Dorney: best team this season Billy boy.. won’t say u have the best support in the land mind you.. of course you will have the biggest support look at the catchment area of cork v dundalk. Only 35000 live in dundalk.. so you have easily 3 times that in cork…best manager… no comparison… when jc wins 3 titles in a row including a quaruple and takes u into the group stages of Europe then we can discuss. But until then Kenny is far superior. Tallaght equally as good as the cross. Common denominator there is that neither club owns the ground…
@billy Dorney: oh and not whining at all but if we are to read a factual article then it should be researched correctly. It’s like saying Cobh won the cup final last season. And I am sure you wouldn’t let that slide without comment Billy!!
Wake up Denis Hurley. 3 mistakes in your article. Drogheda are not the reigning champions, the score was 5.1, not 5.0 and Stephen Kenny is not the Drogheda manager!….
Rebel army,rebel army
Delighted to see campion get a couple.his confidence could do with a boost.assisted with a couple too.
@Mark Fitzgerald: yeah absolutely chuffed he’s a great bit of stuff,good bustler
Poor ol mouthpiece Collins