Home defeat frustrates Dunne
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Cork City ended their season at Turner’s Cross with a seventh home defeat last night as basement side Salthill Devon caused a big surprise by defeating the home side 2-1.
Having won only half of their sixteen home games this season, this was perhaps the poorest result and City manager Tommy Dunne was understandably frustrated to end the home campaign with yet another defeat at Turner’s Cross.
Cian McBrien scored the decisive penalty for the Galway side eight minutes from time after Davin O’Neill had levelled the game for the home team midway through the half.
It was just Salthill’s third win of the season and Dunne understandably cut a disappointed figure after the game.
“I’m very disappointed after a defeat to Salthill because it’s not something you’d like to finish your home season with. But in fairness to them, they had a bigger hunger for the game and that was something that we possibly didn’t have tonight,” Dunne said.
“When you have something more to play for it shows. I’m disappointed but if you reflect on the game, we had enough chances to win it again.
“Anything that bounces around the box, we need to be prepared to finish it off. We had the lions share of possession but that doesn’t win you games, it’s about scoring more goals and not conceding and we conceded two poor goals from set-pieces tonight.”
“It was always going to be difficult after conceding a penalty at such a late stage. We wanted to finish with a win but for me it was about looking at certain people and next year.
“For us, next season is the bigger picture and our aim was always to get ourselves right for next year.”
Ultimately, Cork dominated in terms of possession but a lack of verve in the final third saw them fail to break down a resilient Salthill defence that put the shutters up when they took the lead in the first half, before snatching an unlikely winner late in the game.
“Salthill are fighting for their lives and you accept that a team like them would set up like they did. Fair play to them though, they came and they fought well. I just think we didn’t have a killer buzz and instinct for the game tonight.
“They had a bigger hunger for the game and that was something that we possibly didn’t have. We had enough chances to win the game yet again but we need to be prepared to finish them off.”
Having won only half of their sixteen home games this season, this was perhaps the poorest result and City manager Tommy Dunne was understandably frustrated to end the home campaign with yet another defeat at Turner’s Cross.
Cian McBrien scored the decisive penalty for the Galway side eight minutes from time after Davin O’Neill had levelled the game for the home team midway through the half.
It was just Salthill’s third win of the season and Dunne understandably cut a disappointed figure after the game.
“I’m very disappointed after a defeat to Salthill because it’s not something you’d like to finish your home season with. But in fairness to them, they had a bigger hunger for the game and that was something that we possibly didn’t have tonight,” Dunne said.
“When you have something more to play for it shows. I’m disappointed but if you reflect on the game, we had enough chances to win it again.
“Anything that bounces around the box, we need to be prepared to finish it off. We had the lions share of possession but that doesn’t win you games, it’s about scoring more goals and not conceding and we conceded two poor goals from set-pieces tonight.”
“It was always going to be difficult after conceding a penalty at such a late stage. We wanted to finish with a win but for me it was about looking at certain people and next year.
“For us, next season is the bigger picture and our aim was always to get ourselves right for next year.”
Ultimately, Cork dominated in terms of possession but a lack of verve in the final third saw them fail to break down a resilient Salthill defence that put the shutters up when they took the lead in the first half, before snatching an unlikely winner late in the game.
“Salthill are fighting for their lives and you accept that a team like them would set up like they did. Fair play to them though, they came and they fought well. I just think we didn’t have a killer buzz and instinct for the game tonight.
“They had a bigger hunger for the game and that was something that we possibly didn’t have. We had enough chances to win the game yet again but we need to be prepared to finish them off.”
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