League Report: Cork City 0-2 Dundalk

Dylan O’Connell reports from Turners Cross

Two goals in two minutes from Patrick Hoban gave Dundalk the three points over Cork City at Turner’s Cross on Tuesday night.

The Lilywhites moved up to third with the result, one that strengthens their position in attempting to secure European football at Oriel Park for 2021.

The final score also means Cork City remain bottom of the table, two points away from Finn Harps who have a game in hand.

The first half belonged to Dundalk who dominated possession. Sean Gannon and Sean Murray were excellent for the Lilywhites with their crosses and corners, but City managed to clear each time.

Hoban went very close when spun onto a loose ball in the area except his shot was tame and easily caught by Liam Bossin.

City closed out the first half the strongest. Cian Coleman forced an excellent save from Gary Rodgers after he fired with power from distance.

Luck saved City just ten minutes into the second half as Michael Duffy curled a shot low at former Ireland under-21 Bossin.

The City shot-stopper palmed the ball into the path of Hoban, who knocked the ball out for a goal kick.

Dylan McGlade had the best chance of the game for City. The winger chased down a loose ball from Sean Gannon, turned, and whipped a ball towards the top corner but Gary Rodgers sprung off his feet and clawed the ball away from the top right corner.

The breakthrough for the Lilywhites came in the 74^th minute when a misjudged cross from Gannon fell to Hoban who cleanly tapped the ball in.

Two minutes later the striker was at the end of a lovely long pass from Shields and the striker again fired home.

The rest of the game saw a flurry of half chances for City but nothing overly testing for the Dundalk back four.

Cork City: Liam Bossin; Alan Bennett, Uniss Kargbo (Alec Byrne 45), Jake O'Brien, Kevin O'Connor, Joseph Olowu; Cian Coleman, Dylan McGlade (Cian Bargary 74), Henry Ochieng; Deshane Dalling (Connor Simpson 85).

Subs not used: Cory Galvin, Alec Byrne, Cian Bargary, David Harrington, Dale Holland, Connor Simpson, Rob Slevin.

Booked: Uniss Kargbo (40), Deshane Dalling (TBC). 

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Cameron Dummigan, Daniel Cleary, Andy Boyle; Michael Duffy (Daniel Kelly 86), Patrick McEleney (Jordan Flores 80), Sean Murray (Greg Sloggett 64), Nathan Oduwa (Stefan Colovic 80), Chris Shields; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan 86).

Subs not used: Brian Gartland,  Aaron McCarey.



Refereee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 0.

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Patrick Hoban (Dundalk).