Cork City 3-0 Kildare County

Paul Doolin won his first game in Turner’s Cross as Cork City boss tonight, defeating a lethargic Kildare County by three goals to nil in front of about 900 supporters

The home side dominated throughout, with the Leinster side a step behind for most of the game. Cork had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when Cillian Lordan missed from three yards out in the sixth minute. Faz Kudozovic crossed from the left and it was headed back across goal by Dan Murray but Cillian Lordan mis-hit from only three yards out

With 13 minutes on the clock, Billy Dennehy played in Denis Behan and the Abbeyfeale man’s right footed shot was palmed away by John Flynn in the Kildare County goal. Kuduzovic looked like opening the scoring with a header in the 22nd minute but Flynn produced another excellent save, pushing the ball over the bar for a corner

However, the home side did make it 1-0 from the resulting corner, with Mezeckis finishing from close range with 26 on the clock. Dan Murray headed over on 31 as Cork continued to dominate against a Kildare side who looked a touch off the pace from the beginning.

Colin Healy took a free-kick from the end line after Danny Murphy was fouled; the former Ireland midfielder’s ball was headed past the stranded John Flynn in the 33rd minute as the Leesiders doubled their lead

Faz Kudozovic is known for his ability from dead-ball situations but a free kick on the edge of the area in the 37th minute was left to Billy Dennehy, the left-winger crashing the ball off of the wall. Danny Murphy then shot after the Kildare defence failed to close down, but Flynn managed to save.

Paul Doolin made five changes early in the second half, although Kildare still didn’t show much promise against the new-look Leesiders.

Dan Murray headed narrowly wide after he was left unmarked in the box early in the second period, while not long afterwards Davin O’Neill failed to capitalise on a mistake by Davin Murphy, with the former Cobh striker shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

Latvian striker Guntars Silagailis grabbed his first goal for the club with a tap-in after a good cross from Davin O’Neill in the 70th minute to make it 3-0.

However, from then on both sides just went through the motions and there wasn’t much goalmouth action as the game petered out. Paul Doolin will certainly be happy with his team’s performance, particularly in the first half, although it’s unknown whether the team will have another warm-up game before they kick-off their 2009 campaign against Sligo Rovers on the 6th of March.

Cork City: Mark McNulty (Dan Connor 49); Neal Horgan (Pat Sullivan 49), Danny Murphy, Robert Mezeckis, Dan Murray, Colin Healy (Shane Duggan 62), Joe Gamble (Eoin Forde 68), Fahrudin Kuduzovic (Davin O'Neill 52), Billy Dennehy (Timmy Kiely 69), Cillian Lordan, Denis Behan (Guntars Silagailis 52).
Subs not used: Greg O’Halloran, Paul Deasy, Sean Kelly.

Kildare County: John Flynn (John Mulligan 43); Eoin Kavanagh, Babal Saka, Jani Vaitrus, Davin Murphy, Rory Browne (Samson Aboah 70), Paul Rigney (Leslie Kelly 70), Gary Connolly (Pat Dobbs 55), Patrick Mahon Ollie Zamardi 69), Trevor Bowers, Ken Butler (Matt Byrne 55).
Subs not used: Mark Monaghan.

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 900 (estimate).