EA Cup: Cork City 2-0 Waterford United

Two first half Garry Buckley goals helped Cork City cruise into the quarter finals of the EA Sports Cup at the expense of First Division Waterford United at a sunny Turner’s Cross on Monday evening.

Buckley netted twice in three minutes in the opening quarter and the Blues, whose financial problems were publicised this week, never looked likely to get back into the game after that early setback.

Both sides made changes to the teams that were in league action at the weekend with a number of fringe players given the chance to impress.

Waterford came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute when City midfielder Buckley nearly turned the ball into his own net after a Waterford corner from the left.

Two minutes later, Buckley opened the scoring at the right end when he swept the ball home from Ian Turner’s right-wing cross.

Buckley doubled the lead shortly after with his second, this time he converted a cross from former Aston Villa youth team player Kevin Mulcahy. 

City were in complete control with Waterford’s main attacking threats coming from the set-piece deliveries of former City player Stephen Kenny and Conor Whittle.

Another former Cork player, Gavin Kavanagh, nearly got on the end of one corner with Thomas Croke’s acrobatic effort well blocked by the City defence after another Kenny corner from the right.

The second half was a bit of a non-event in truth with the hosts happy to sit on their lead with the old adage of 2-0 being a dangerous lead proving less than apt.

Turner, who has become a bit of a forgotten man at City this season, produced a lively display on the right flank but Anthony Elding was unable to make much of a mark and was replaced by Rob Lehane just short of the hour.

Buckley headed wide in ther 62nd minute after a Colin Healy cross before curling wide two minutes later after being teed up by the hard-working Dave O’Leary as he searched for his hat-trick.

Waterford’s Willie John Kiely made an impact off the bench for the last 18 minutes but the Blues were unable to create any chances of note despite the vocal support of the 30 or so travelling supporters as the hosts coasted into the quarters.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh (Neal Horgan 46), Dan Murray, John Dunleavy (c), Kevin Mulcahy; Ian Turner, Garry Buckley (Andy O’Connell 72), Dave O’Leary, Colin Healy, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Anthony Elding (Rob Lehane 58).
Subs not used: Matt Gledhill (gk), Brian Lenihan, Billy Dennehy, Mark O’Sullivan.

Booked: Kevin Mulcahy (86).

Waterford United: Matthew Connor; Thomas Whitty, Gavin Kavanagh (c), Patrick Fitzgerald, Shaun Corcoran; Conor Whittle (Jack Doherty 67), Conor Coad (Kevin O’Connor 46), Thomas Croke, Stephen Kenny; Conor Meade (Willie John Kiely 67), Kynan Rocks.
Subs not used: Kevin Burns (gk), Paul Quilty, Philip Drohan, John Frost. 

Booked: Conor Coad (42)

Referee: Kevin O’Regan

Attendance: 579

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Garry Buckley (Cork City)