Match Report: Cork City 4 - 1 Athlone Town
Barry Coffey scored his fourth goal of the season against Athlone Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)
Cork City went three points clear at the top of the Airtricity League First Division tonight courtesy of a 4-1 win at home to Athlone Town at Turner’s Cross.
City, buoyant after a four-goal rout of Treaty United at Markets Field last week, were the quicker side out of the blocks and had a presentable chance within twenty seconds of the first whistle. Ronan Hurley broke down the left wing and found Barry Coffey at the edge of the box; however the Celtic loanee couldn’t make the desired contact and his shot was claimed by Micheál Schlingermann in the Athlone goal.
Cian Murphy was the next to work an opportunity for the hosts but his header from Aaron Bolger’s cross didn't trouble Schlingermann unduly.
City didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal, however. Cian Bargary’s through-ball after six minutes was too long for Murphy, but Noah Van Geenan’s attempted clearance ricocheted off Keating and the former Galway striker showed admirable composure to round Schlingermann and poke home.
Athlone were struggling to make inroads, although Thomas Oluwa gave Kevin O’Connor some nervous moments. However the Enniscorthy man had an impact at the other end after 17 minutes, as his corner-kick was met at the back post by Jonas Hakkinen. The former Finland under-21 international’s header struck the arm of Carlton Ubaezuonu, and referee David Dunne had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Keating sent Schlingermann the wrong way from the spot to double the home side’s lead.
City were rampant now, and Keating smelled a hat-trick. An offside flag denied him a good shooting opportunity, while Murphy also looked menacing, having a shot in the 33rd minute deflected wide by Van Geenan. Athlone’s respite was brief, however, and O’Connor’s deep cross from the corner was diverted back across goal by Ally Gilchrist. Murphy was left with the simplest of tasks to head home from a yard out.
City were now cruising, but were shaken out of their complacency a mere three minutes later. Gary Armstrong was given too much room to float an inviting cross into David Harrington’s penalty area, and Ubaezuonu ghosted between Gilchrist and Hakkinen to flick a header home via the left-hand upright. The South African’s goal was only the second that City have conceded this season.
Murphy went close to bagging his brace with a near-post flick before the break, but Athlone reached the interval without sustaining further damage and would have been encouraged by their goal.
However City started the second period much like they had the first, and the game was put to bed after 51 minutes. Bargary’s long throw-in wasn’t dealt with by the Athlone defence, and Coffey was on hand to bag his fourth league goal of the campaign and restore City’s three-goal cushion.
From here, a welter of substitutions stripped the game of any fluency. The midlanders’ evening went from bad to worse after 81 minutes as substitute Aaron Connolly was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Both were clumsy fouls and he could have had no complaint about the sanction for either. His evening lasted all of fourteen minutes.
City saw the game out easily, and results elsewhere mean that they have put daylight between themselves and Galway, albeit that the westerners have a game in hand. Next up for the Leesiders is a trip to Wexford next Friday, while Athlone host Bray Wanderers. That both teams will have contrasting ambitions for the remainder of the season was brought into sharp focus this evening.
Cork City: David Harrington; Jonas Hakkinen, Ally Gilchrist, Ronan Hurley (Kieran Coates 57), Kevin O'Connor (c); Darragh Crowley, Barry Coffey (Josh Honohan 84), Aaron Bolger, Cian Bargary (Oran Crowe 84), Ruairi Keating (Matt Srbely 74); Cian Murphy (Uniss Kargbo 74).
Subs not used: Jimmy Corcoran, Cian Coleman, Zachary Dunne.
Booked: Darragh Crowley (21), Cian Murphy (45).
Sent off: None.
Athlone Town: Mícheál Schlingermann; Cian Kelly, Success Edogun (Glen McAuley 46), Aaron McBride, Noah van Geenan; Stephen Kenny, Youri Habing (Quincy Nkansah 67), Oisin Duffy, Carlton Ubaezuonu; Gary Armstrong (Aaron Connolly 67), Thomas Oluwa (Shane Barnes 84).
Subs not used: Andrew Skerritt, Donal Curtin, Andy Spain, Daniel Dobbin, Cameron Mulready.
Booked: Aaron Connolly (69) Aaron Connolly (81).
Sent off: Aaron Connolly (81).
Referee: David Dunne
Attendance: 2,754
extratime.com Player of the Match: Aaron Bolger
