League Report: Cork City 2 - 2 Dundalk

Cork City came from behind to draw with League champions Dundalk in the final home game of the season tonight in Turners Cross in front of 2,618 supporters.

Dundalk made the perfect start to the game going two ahead inside the opening 25 minutes through David McMillan and Richie Towell. Cork City, who will face Dundalk in the Aviva in the Cup final next month, responded by scoring two first half goals from Karl Sheppard and Mark O’Sullivan to earn a draw.

Cork City made four changes from the side which beat St. Patrick’s Athletic away on Monday with Dan Murray, Liam Kearney, Mark O’Sullivan and Liam Miller replacing Gary Buckley, Danny Morrissey, Alan Bennett and Darren Dennehy.

Dundalk had a scoreless draw with Galway United last Friday and manager Stephen Kenny made several changes to the team with John Mountney, Andy Boyle, Ronan Finn and Chris Shields retaining their places in the starting eleven.

The game was only 11 minutes old when Dundalk made the breakthrough as Daryl Horgan’s free from near the sideline found the unmarked McMillan who finished from close range.

Dundalk had most of the ball and their second arrived on 25 minutes as Horgan linked up with Finn whose ball found Towell and he smashed the ball into the net from outside the box.

As the half wore on City came more and more into the game. They then pulled one back on 28 minutes when Sheppard’s cross was finished into the net at the front post by O’Sullivan for his tenth league goal of the season.

McNulty excellently denied John Mountney’s curling shot on 28 minutes as the game’s tempo improved but Mountney and McMillan couldn’t convert chances.

Sheppard’s equaliser arrived on 37 minutes when Ross Gaynor’s corner was headed in at the back post for his thirteenth league goal of the season.

The second half was exciting but not as incident packed with Gary Rodgers on 68 minutes denying Sheppard while minutes later Ciaran Kilduff shot over from inside the box much to the dismay of the large travelling support.

Towell had a shot go narrowly wide on 84 minutes for Dundalk but O’Sullivan had the final chance on 93 minutes when he was unable to get to a through ball as Rodgers was quick off his line to gather the ball to ensure the points would be shared.

Thoughts now turn to City’s final league game of the season where they will face Bohemians away in Dalymount Park on Friday knowing a point will guarantee them second place regardless of how Shamrock Rovers get on in their own game. For Dundalk they will face Rovers in the Leinster Senior Cup Final this Monday against Shamrock Rovers in Oriel Park before they will renew acquaintances with City in the Cup final on November 8^th in the Aviva Stadium.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Michael McSweeney, Dan Murray, John Dunleavy, Ross Gaynor; Liam Miller, Kevin O’Connor; Steven Beattie (John O’Flynn 80), Liam Kearney (Billy Dennehy 55), Karl Sheppard; Mark O’Sullivan

Subs not used: Alan Smith, Connor Ellis, Chiedozie Ogbene, Cian Coleman, Stephen Folan

Yellow Cards: Beattie (30), Kearney (53), McSweeney (68)

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dean Massey; John Mountney (Sean Maguire 81), Richie Towell, Chris Shields (George Poynton 65), Ronan Finn, Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Ciarán Kilduff 70)

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Kurtis Byrne, Shane Grimes, Paddy Barrett

Yellow Cards: Towell (25)

Referee: Paul Tuite 

Attendance: 2,618

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Steven Beattie (Cork City)