FAI Cup Report: Home Farm 1 - 5 Cork City

Dave Donnelly reports from Whitehall Stadium

Sean Goulding scored a wonderstrike from halfway but the challenge of holders Cork City proved too great for Home Farm as the Rebel Army won out 5-1 in Whitehall on Sunday afternoon.

Rónán Coughlan scored twice following Josh O'Hanlon's opener, and goals from Barry McNamee and Kieran Sadlier saw City through to the second round.

The Leesiders led 5-1 at the break and that's how it finished as a facile second half played in stifling humidity failed to yield any further goals or, in truth, meaningful chances.

Home Farm lined out with former Turner's Cross favourite Ollie Cahill – who turns 43 next month – in the heart of midfield and Bradlee Hand up front alongside Goulding.

The brave approach taken by manager John Hand was to cost them dearly, however, as the Leinster Senior League side found themselves three goals in arrears inside 12 minutes.

City boss John Caulfield made ten changes from the side beaten 2-0 by Rosenborg in the Europa League on Thursday, with McNamee retaining his place in midfield.

And they led within three minutes in the softest of circumstances as Conor McCarthy's ball down the line played in O'Hanlon, who had all the time in the word to set himself and slot home.

If the opener was soft, the second was a gift, as goalkeeper Liam Woodcock spilled O'Hanlon's tame cross and Coughlan was in the perfect position to stab the ball into an empty net.

There were just eight minutes played, and Coughlan doubled his tally four minutes later when McNamee's shot was deflected to McCarthy, and he unselfishly teed up Coughlan for a tap-in.



Home Farm did belatedly take steps to counter Cork's attacking threat as Bradlee Hand – the manager's son – dropped deeper to help out his midfielders.

They held out until just past the half-hour when Sadlier showed great pace to beat two men on the left and cross for McNamee, who had drifted away from Cahill, to sweep home on the half-volley.

Then came an unexpected moment of magic. John Dunleavy, starting for the first time in 14 months following a horrific knee injury, saw his pass out of defence intercepted by Goudling.

The striker controlled, steadied himself and, spotting Peter Cherrie outside his penalty box, sent a perfectly-weighted shot over the keeper's head and into the net from more than 50 yards.

It was a spectacular finish and rightfully had the home fans on their feet for the first time since falling behind early on.

Home Farm had their tails up and, when former St Patrick's Athletic winger Christy Doran swung in a cross, it very nearly fell perfectly over his shoulder but the striker couldn't connect with a volley.



City halted any chance of a comeback a minute before half-time as Coughlan nicked the ball away from James Duff before falling over the skipper's leg, and Sadlier converted the penalty.

Taking Derry City's 12-2 win over Blarney United on Saturday as a guide, City had a chance to put up a record scoreline but the second half petered out without a clear opportunity on either side.

Home Farm: Liam Woodcock; Stephen O'Sullivan, James Duff, Jack McMullan, Michael Lynch (Gavin Carroll 29); Eoin Murray (Aaron O'Dwyer 53), Ollie Cahill, Bradlee Hand (Matt McEntee 77), Padraig Gilsenan, Christy Doran; Sean Goulding.

Subs not used: Mark Osborne (gk), Dylan Malone, David Pepper, Arnis Kurtaj.

Booked: Gavin Carroll (51), Eoin Murray (52), Jack McMullan (75).

Cork City: Peter Cherrie; Conor McCarthy, Alan Bennett, Aaron Barry, John Dunleavy; Gearoid Morrissey (AlecByrne 54), Pierce Phillips, Barry McNamee; Ronan Coughlan, Kieran Sadlier (Cian Murphy 62), Josh O'Hanlon.

Subs not used: Mark McNulty (gk), Jimmy Keohane, Karl Sheppard, Graham Cummins.

Booked: None.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Attendance: 400 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Kieran Sadlier (Cork City).