Cork City 0 - 1 Glasgow Celtic
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
While the most important thing about tonight’s friendly was to pay-back the mystery lender who helped to pay-off the Revenue Commissioners last month, a crowd of 3,520 were in Turner’s Cross on a sunny September evening to see Glasgow Celtic’s reserve team defeat an experimental Cork City.
A predominantly unheard of Celtic side took to the field at Turner’s Cross, with Paddy McCourt the most familiar face lining out in the famous green and white hoops. Paul Doolin, meanwhile, handed debuts to Robbie Waters and Paul Deasy, though the rest of the starting eleven were all first team regulars.
Davin O’Neill fired over in the first five minutes for Cork but a moment of magic at the other end from a former familiar face in the LoI earned the early plaudits. Paddy McCourt, the former Derry City star, produced an outstanding strike from the edge of the area, hammering the ball into the top corner leaving Mark McNulty with absolutely no chance.
He had started the move originally, playing a short corner to Graham Carey who then flicked back to the 26-year-old and from the moment he struck the ball from 25 yards, you knew it would make the net bulge. In fact, McCourt was the most impressive player on the field throughout the first-half; his only flaw was poor distribution from time to time, though his clever runs and deft touch were great to watch. Despite the dominant 45 minutes, he was practically anonymous for most of the second period.
The home side had the ball in the net on the half hour mark, but it was ruled out for offside. Faz Kuduzovic’s imaginative pass to Davin O’Neill was just slightly out of sync because the former Cobh player was in an offside position. As the flag was raised, O’Neill squared to Gamble who tapped in despite Alan Kelly putting a halt to play.
Barry Robson almost doubled the Hoops’ lead on 35 but Mark McNulty got a vital touch to his free-kick, tipping the ball just over the crossbar. Koki Mizuno almost embarrassed the Cork goalkeeper a minute before the break, with his drive being fumbled before McNulty finally pounced on the ball just before it trickled across the line.
McNulty restored his credibility with a fine stop from McCourt a minute later, though he would be replaced at the break as one of four changes made by Paul Doolin. Former Celtic underage player, Diarmuid O’Carroll entered the fold for his first team debut, while Shane Duggan and Billy Dennehy also made appearances.
Duggan proved effective almost immediately, with his inviting cross being met by Dan Murray. However, the defender’s effort was just off target as the Leesiders started the second period brightly. Billy Dennehy should have done better from promising dead-ball in the 55th minute, but he scuffed the ball and American ‘keeper Dominic Cervi comfortably gathered.
The lively Duggan was at the heart of things again on 58 minutes, his effort drifting just over the bar and into the Shed End. Paul Doolin introduced another three players – debutant Stephen Mulcahy, Guntars Silagailis and goalscorer against Galway United last week, Gareth Cambridge. Despite the flurry of swaps, Cork still had several good chances.
The home team had the ball in the net for a second time, when Danny Murphy’s free-kick found Billy Dennehy at the back-post to tap in. However, the former Derry City man was judged to have been in an offside position and the home side still found themselves a goal in arrears. In the 73rd minute, Guntars Silagailis had a glorious opportunity just three yards out, but remarkably, the Latvian managed to head wide to the despair of the hordes gathered behind the Curragh Road end of the ground.
Incredibly, the front man then missed an absolute sitter three minutes later, when he was free inside the six yard box. The Latvian failed to even hit the target, sending his terrible effort over the bar, as murmurs of “my grandmother could have scored from there” could be heard echoing around the ground at full-time.
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Cillian Lordan, Kevin Long, Dan Murray, Danny Murphy, Robbie Waters, Joe Gamble, Stephen O’Donnell, Paul Deasy, Davin O’Neill, Fahrudin Kuduzovic
Subs: Shane Duggan (Joe Gamble, 46), Billy Dennehy (Robbie Waters, 46), Dan Connor (Mark McNulty, 46), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Paul Deasy, 46), Stephen Mulcahy (Kevin Long, 59), Gareth Cambridge (Fahrudin Kuduzovic, 62), Guntars Silagailis (Davin O’Neill, 64)
Celtic XI: Dominic Cervi, Mark Wilson, Ryan Conroy, Declan Gallagher, Josh Thompson, Marc Crosas, Paddy McCourt, Barry Robson, Koki Mizuno, Paul McGowan, Graham Carey
Subs: Anton Kurakins ( Paul McGowan, 29), Jason Marr (Josh Thompson, 46), Guilleme Beuzelin (Marc Crosas, 46), Luca Santonocito (Koki Mizuno, 76), Daniele Giordano (Dominic Cervi, 82), Kristanis Vallers (Declan Gallagher, 82)
Referee: Alan Kelly
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Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Pat McCourt’s performance in the first half was a thrill to watch.
A predominantly unheard of Celtic side took to the field at Turner’s Cross, with Paddy McCourt the most familiar face lining out in the famous green and white hoops. Paul Doolin, meanwhile, handed debuts to Robbie Waters and Paul Deasy, though the rest of the starting eleven were all first team regulars.
Davin O’Neill fired over in the first five minutes for Cork but a moment of magic at the other end from a former familiar face in the LoI earned the early plaudits. Paddy McCourt, the former Derry City star, produced an outstanding strike from the edge of the area, hammering the ball into the top corner leaving Mark McNulty with absolutely no chance.
He had started the move originally, playing a short corner to Graham Carey who then flicked back to the 26-year-old and from the moment he struck the ball from 25 yards, you knew it would make the net bulge. In fact, McCourt was the most impressive player on the field throughout the first-half; his only flaw was poor distribution from time to time, though his clever runs and deft touch were great to watch. Despite the dominant 45 minutes, he was practically anonymous for most of the second period.
The home side had the ball in the net on the half hour mark, but it was ruled out for offside. Faz Kuduzovic’s imaginative pass to Davin O’Neill was just slightly out of sync because the former Cobh player was in an offside position. As the flag was raised, O’Neill squared to Gamble who tapped in despite Alan Kelly putting a halt to play.
Barry Robson almost doubled the Hoops’ lead on 35 but Mark McNulty got a vital touch to his free-kick, tipping the ball just over the crossbar. Koki Mizuno almost embarrassed the Cork goalkeeper a minute before the break, with his drive being fumbled before McNulty finally pounced on the ball just before it trickled across the line.
McNulty restored his credibility with a fine stop from McCourt a minute later, though he would be replaced at the break as one of four changes made by Paul Doolin. Former Celtic underage player, Diarmuid O’Carroll entered the fold for his first team debut, while Shane Duggan and Billy Dennehy also made appearances.
Duggan proved effective almost immediately, with his inviting cross being met by Dan Murray. However, the defender’s effort was just off target as the Leesiders started the second period brightly. Billy Dennehy should have done better from promising dead-ball in the 55th minute, but he scuffed the ball and American ‘keeper Dominic Cervi comfortably gathered.
The lively Duggan was at the heart of things again on 58 minutes, his effort drifting just over the bar and into the Shed End. Paul Doolin introduced another three players – debutant Stephen Mulcahy, Guntars Silagailis and goalscorer against Galway United last week, Gareth Cambridge. Despite the flurry of swaps, Cork still had several good chances.
The home team had the ball in the net for a second time, when Danny Murphy’s free-kick found Billy Dennehy at the back-post to tap in. However, the former Derry City man was judged to have been in an offside position and the home side still found themselves a goal in arrears. In the 73rd minute, Guntars Silagailis had a glorious opportunity just three yards out, but remarkably, the Latvian managed to head wide to the despair of the hordes gathered behind the Curragh Road end of the ground.
Incredibly, the front man then missed an absolute sitter three minutes later, when he was free inside the six yard box. The Latvian failed to even hit the target, sending his terrible effort over the bar, as murmurs of “my grandmother could have scored from there” could be heard echoing around the ground at full-time.
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Cillian Lordan, Kevin Long, Dan Murray, Danny Murphy, Robbie Waters, Joe Gamble, Stephen O’Donnell, Paul Deasy, Davin O’Neill, Fahrudin Kuduzovic
Subs: Shane Duggan (Joe Gamble, 46), Billy Dennehy (Robbie Waters, 46), Dan Connor (Mark McNulty, 46), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Paul Deasy, 46), Stephen Mulcahy (Kevin Long, 59), Gareth Cambridge (Fahrudin Kuduzovic, 62), Guntars Silagailis (Davin O’Neill, 64)
Celtic XI: Dominic Cervi, Mark Wilson, Ryan Conroy, Declan Gallagher, Josh Thompson, Marc Crosas, Paddy McCourt, Barry Robson, Koki Mizuno, Paul McGowan, Graham Carey
Subs: Anton Kurakins ( Paul McGowan, 29), Jason Marr (Josh Thompson, 46), Guilleme Beuzelin (Marc Crosas, 46), Luca Santonocito (Koki Mizuno, 76), Daniele Giordano (Dominic Cervi, 82), Kristanis Vallers (Declan Gallagher, 82)
Referee: Alan Kelly
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Pat McCourt’s performance in the first half was a thrill to watch.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile