Cork City 1
Dundalk 0
Denis Hurley reports from Turner’s Cross
CORK CITY GAVE their fans something to sing about as Dáire O’Connor’s goal ensured the Rebel Army rounded off their home league programme on a positive note, seeing off Dundalk at Turner’s Cross tonight.
O’Connor, also on target in the win over UCD which secured safety last week, struck just before half-time, slotting home past Aaron McCarey from a nice ball behind the defence by Ben O’Brien-Whitmarsh.
While Dundalk pushed hard in the second half, forcing a number of chances, they found City goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan in unbeatable form, denying Jamie McGrath, Robbie Benson and, most impressively, Dane Massey in the 85th minute with a brilliant save to claw the ball out from under the crossbar.
The Lilywhites had had a lot of the play in the first half too, but struggled to create clear-cut chances, however City’s Alec Byrne had to produce an important intervention to deny Seán Murray after a good low Michael Duffy cross and the midfielder also blocked a Benson effort following a corner.
City’s goal gave them something to defend though and in the second half, they protected their lead impressively, with Conor McCarthy and Dan Casey also going close at the other end.
Most importantly for Neale Fenn’s side, though, the clean sheet remained intact and they achieved back-to-back league wins for the first time since May.
CORK CITY: Tadhg Ryan; Conor McCormack, Conor McCarthy, Dan Casey, Ronan Hurley; Gearóid Morrissey, Alec Byrne; Dáire O’Connor, Garry Buckley, Karl Sheppard; Ben O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Eoghan Stokes 83).
DUNDALK: Aaron McCarey; Seán Gannon, Seán Hoare, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson; Daniel Kelly (Georgie Kelly 77), Seán Murray (Jamie McGrath 56), Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban.
Referee: Robert Hennessy (Limerick).
Well, it’s finally here. Andy Dunne, Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey make a call on Ireland’s World Cup quarter-final with New Zealand.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Great result – horrible game
Agreed; all that spitting and shouting at the ref, never mind the tribalistic thuggery it engenders internationally.
A lot to be said for oval shaped balls.
And as is evident here you will often find a cock on the end of them
This is qualified success in a worldwide sport, not reaching the quarter finals of a sport played by 10 teams… Genuine achievement by an extremely mediocre side. Possibly the worst Irish side in my life, but much more commendable than coming out of a group they were expected to come out of(like the oval-balled lads) and then losing to a side they should beat. These boys have a massive task in front of them now. If they can pick up some points it’ll be a result. And if they do a Greece, yourself and the D4 crowd will probably be first on the bandwagon. I’ve been on it years though and there’s plenty of room whenever you’re ready.
99.999% Qualified which is a great achievement for the material that Trap has. Europe is more difficult to qualify for than the World cup well done to the team. It will give the country something to look forward to next summer the kind of buzz that an oval ball would never give to such a wide section of the population.
Worst Irish side in your life?! what age are you, 2? This is easily the best Irish side in 10 years, possibly on a par with the ’02 team. Its the tactics that make the team look bad.
Oh please,no more oval ball shennanigans,please.
Great achievement overall to qualify and well done to the lads but Ireland’s style looked like that of a second rate Jack Charlton’s tonight for much of the time, belting high balls at and into Walters, who did very well. If only we had a player who could put his foot on the ball in the centre of the park and spray the odd decent pass. The result is obviously the most important thing but we are just not an enjoyable team to watch at present and the players to me seem to be stifled, mainly by Trap’s tactics.
A win is a win no matter what you can watch any match and get a bad game but when it your team and you win it’s a great feeling and I hope it’s lift us all out of this recession come on Ireland
“international football has never been more open. As a result ……teams like Greece actually winning etc. “. That’s incredible , Greece were the most defensive team ever to win a championship. Their games were like watching chess in slow motion. Some sports reporters give you the impression they have never done more than read each others articles.
I think it’s fairly obvious he means ‘open’ in the sense of ‘there for the taking’, as opposed to an open style of play.
Tens of thousands of paddies boarding flights to Poland next Summer- whoda thunk it?
I could almost hear Michael O’Leary hiking up prices at the end of the game.
Did anyone else notice the flag the Estonian supporters were flying last night? It was the Union Jack, with the Three Lions crest of England, but in the Estonian colours. What was that all about?
Did wonder about the union Jack alright. Weird!
great article,spot on!
No no Alan,that s only when all the normal priced flights to Poland are sold that Michael will raise the prices,do u know so all the rest of us can have the chance to buy tickets at €400 odd euro