League Report: Cork City 2 - 1 Sligo Rovers

There was late drama (yet again) in Turner’s Cross on Friday night, as Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty saved a penalty from Sligo Rovers striker Danny North in the final minutes of the game to seal the Leesider’s comeback and keep them in the hunt for league glory.

A crowd of just over 3,000 people were treated to an exciting game at the Cross, but it was the visitors who started the brighter in this televised encounter.

The Bit O’Red almost took the lead in the 10^th minute when Paul O’Conor’s goal-bound effort took a wicked deflection that almost had Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty beaten…almost…the Ballincollig man was alert, however, and an outstretched right hand parried the ball back into play before ex-Sligo Rovers defender Ross Gaynor closed down the second attempt.

John Caulfield’s men almost took an undeserved lead minutes later, when a rare foray into the Sligo Rovers box saw Garry Buckley’s header come off the frame of the goal, but from there on in until half time, it was nearly all Sligo as Gavin Dykes looked to get his first three points in the hotseat.

First up was Danny North, who dragged a shot wide after a quarter of an hour, before Eamon Zayed hit the Cork City crossbar while under pressure from Darren Dennehy on twenty minutes.

In their changed blue strip, the visitors continued to turn the screw and they took the lead on 31 minutes in spectacular fashion. After working the ball down the left, Sligo forward Raffaele Cretaro found all avenues blocked and the ball came back to left back Danny Ledwith. The former UCD player shaped as if he was going to cross but, instead, let fly with venom from some 35 yards and saw his effort rocket past Mark McNulty. Indeed, after the match, the Cork City goalkeeper himself admitted he did not know much about the effort.

Sligo Rovers were in the ascendancy now, but the Rebel Army held on until half time and could consider themselves lucky to be only one down at the interval.

It was an altogether different Cork City who emerged for the second half; purposeful and direct. Indeed the second half was only twenty seconds old when the Rebel Army mounted their first attack of the half.

Gearóid Morrissey in midfield was once again impressive, as he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck (despite concerns about his groin pre-match), however it was the introduction of Leeside legend John O’Flynn on 54 minutes that was to prove telling as Cork City switched to two up top.

It only took the former Barnet striker three minutes to make his presence known, as he flicked on a Billy Dennehy cross from the right into the path of Mark O’Sullivan, who scrambled the ball home from close range to restore parity.

If Sligo had dominated the first half, the second half was Cork City’s and the home side took the lead six minutes later. Buoyed by his goal, O’Sullivan showed great strength in the middle and released Billy Dennehy down the left. The Tralee-native had the impressive Gary Boylan in pursuit, but showed great composure to break into the box and finish with a low drive past the diving Gary Rogers.

Sligo Rovers responded superbly to going behind, and began to grow into the game again with Eamon Zayed missing with a header on 72 minutes. Fearing an equaliser, the Cork City dugout withdrew Garry Buckley and brought on Michael McSweeney to play a five man defence for the last ten minutes.

McSweeney has impressed for the Rebel Army since signing in the summer transfer window, but almost became the villain in the 86^th minute when referee Neil Doyle correctly adjudged him to have fouled Ruairi Keating in the box. Up stepped Danny North to take the spot kick, but McNulty in the Cork City goal guessed right and with a diving save to his right kept Cork City in this year’s title race.

Although Sligo continued to press into added time, there was a sense around Turner’s Cross that it wasn’t to be there night and Dykes would have to look to next week for his first win as Sligo Rovers interim manager.

For the Rebel Army, the importance of the win was underlined by Dundalk’s win in UCD and Stephen Kenny’s men will be hoping that their neighbours Drogheda United do them a favour when they travel to Turner’s Cross next Friday.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy (c), Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor; Josh O’Shea (John O’Flynn ‘54 (Dave O’Leary ‘90)), Gearóid Morrissey, Garry Buckley (Michael McSweeney ‘80), Colin Healy, Billy Dennehy; Mark O’Sullivan.
Subs Not Used: Kevin O’Brien (gk), John Kavanagh, Rob Lehane, Liam Kearney.

Booked: Colin Healy (49), John O’Flynn (62), Garry Buckley (75), Michael McSweeney (86), Billy Dennehy (90+2).

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Gary Boylan, Evan McMillan, Gavin Peers, Danny Ledwith; Seamus Conneely, David Cawley, Paul O’Conor (Gary Armstrong ’64); Danny North, Eamon Zayed (Ruairi Keating ’75), Raffaele Cretaro.
Subs Not Used: Ryan McManus, Regan Donelon, Richard Brush (gk).

Booked: Paul O’Conor (55), Raffaele Cretaro (74), Seamus Conneely (79), Gavin Peers.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 3,077

Extratime.ie Man Of The Match:  Ross Gaynor (Cork City).