League Report: Cork City 2 - 3 Limerick

Cork City were defeated by Limerick tonight in Turners Cross despite the visitors being as big as 10/1 outsiders before the game.

Goals from Paudie O’Connor, Vinny Faherty and Dean Clarke were enough to give Limerick the three points despite goals from Cork substitutes John O’Flynn and Ross Gaynor.

Cork City made no changes from the side that beat Sligo Rovers 2-0 last week with Kevin O’Connor recovering from the injury that forced him off the pitch last week. Limerick on the other hand were forced into two changes following their 4-3 victory over Bohemians in the Markets Field last Saturday with both Shaun Kelly and Patrick Kanyuka suspended forcing them to be replaced by Sean Russell and Paudie O’Connor.

The visitors burst out of the blocks in the opening minutes of the game seeing Lee Lynch nearly score from distance after a very poor clearance by Mark McNulty. However the ex Hamilton player was to prove instrumental in giving Limerick the lead on seven minutes when his through ball cut through the City rearguard before falling to Vinny Flaherty who scored from the edge of the box, with a low strike past McNulty.

Cork City were struggling to get any foothold into the game and were nearly punished a minute after the concession of the goal when Lynch got into a very good position on the edge of the box but his shot was well saved by McNulty. The home crowd were very quiet as their side struggled to get into the game. Faherty whose pace was causing Colin Healy problems at right back nearly scored after a long run into the box but the shot just went wide.

The game was then delayed on the quarter of an hour mark for a few minutes as Paudie O’Connor and John Dunleavy had a clash of heads going for the ball and the City captain had to be replaced with Ross Gaynor.

City should really have taken the lead just before the half hour mark when a training ground free kick move from Kevin O’Connor found Karl Sheppard who saw his cross find Dan Murray but the centre half was unable to keep the shot down from close range.

The visitors were then to take the lead for the second time in the game when Shane Duuggan’s through ball found Ian Turner but his shot from the edge of the box was well saved by McNulty only for it to fall to Dean Clarke who bundled the ball over the line.

With half time approaching City resorted to long balls in the hope of an equaliser but nothing would go their way as they went into the break a goal down.

City started the second half much better but nearly fell further behind on 52 minutes when McNulty saw his clearance hit off Faherty’s chest and bounced just wide off the upright.

However the home side found an equaliser five minutes later when Sheppard’s cross fell to Beattie but Hall looked to have gathered the ball but collided with the city player only to concede a corner. From the corner Sheppard found Bennett who headed to John O’Flynn who tapped in from close range becoming the second City substitute of the evening to score.

City had further chances to score via a few goalmouth scramblers but found themselves once again behind on 65 minutes when Sean Russell’s free kick found Paudie O’Connor and the centre half headed home from a few yards to send the travelling support wild.

City tried to respond at the other end but Bennett saw his header go narrowly wide of the goal following Gaynor’s free kick.

Limerick were playing better than their bottom of the table position suggested and Clarke nearly had a second goal when his low shot was saved at the near post by McNulty.

In the final ten minutes City thought they would be awarded a penalty when it looked like Steven Beattie had been taken down inside the box by Clarke but referee McKeon pointed for a free and the free kick was cleared.

Limerick went up the other side of the pitch and nearly scored a fourth when Prince Agyemang’s pass found Lynch with McNulty saving from a one on one position and the rebound from Duggan went straight at McNulty.

With time almost up Gaynor brought a great save out of Hall but despite City throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at the Limerick goal it would not be breached and Limerick held on for a win that will be crucial to their survival hopes this season.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Colin Healy, Alan Bennett, Dan Murray, Kevin O’Connor; Liam Miller, Gary Buckley; Steven Beattie, John Dunleavy (Ross Gaynor 18), Karl Sheppard; Mark O’Sullivan (John O’Flynn 46)

Subs not used: Kevin O’Brien, Michael McSweeney, Danny O’Connell, Liam Kearney, Stephen Folan.

Yellow Cards: None.

Limerick: Freddy Hall; Paul O’Conor, Robbie Williams, Paudie O’Connor, Shane Tracy; Ian Turner, Shane Duggan, Lee Lynch, Sean Russell (Prince Agyemang 82); Dean Clarke (Darragh Rainsford 91), Vinny Faherty

Subs not used: Tommy Holland, Tony Whitehead, Ross Mann, Sean McSweeney, Cyril Guedje

Yellow Cards: Faherty (32), Tracy (39), O’Conor (58), O’Connor (67), Williams (74), Clarke (87)

Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin)

Attendance: 3,018

Extratime.ie man of the match: Lee Lynch (Limerick)