Cork City 3 - 1 Monaghan United

Cork City threw a huge spanner in the works, while also reducing Limerick’s chances of promotion greatly, when producing a performance of true character against Monaghan United at Turner’s Cross on Tuesday night.

This was a performance to remind fans on Leeside how close they really are to having the good times back. The play-off spot looks very likely now, but it’s the automatic promotion place that City really have their eyes on and with games away to Salthill and at home to Longford before their final game in Tolka Park against current leaders Shelbourne, it looks all set up for a grandstand finish.

Yet again it was a moment from Graham Cummins that left the 2,502 inside Turner’s Cross on a nippy evening going home with a spring in their step, the striker scoring one of the best individual goals you’re likely to see for a long time midway through the second half.

Of course he wasn’t the only one to shine on such a pivotal night. Shane Duggan was efficient in midfield, Daryl Horgan and Ian Turner were both livewires on the wings, while Vinny Sullivan linked up well with Cummins. It was just unfortunate that the top scorer was forced to limp off in the 53rd minute, the result of a horrible challenge from William McDonagh, who he embarrassed for the second goal, late in the first half.

For Monaghan, this was a desperate blow. After such a convincing performance against Shelbourne last week, their performance here was in such a stark contrast. Roddy Collins’ men, apart from a decent period early in the second half, looked like a side completely lost after conceding early and committing a succession of cynical fouls, shamelessly hacking down Cummins and Horgan in particular. They had three players in the book by the 40th minute, with Sean Brennan being sent off ten minutes from time for an awful kick at Duggan, while his brother, Ryan, did the same in the dying embers for a second yellow card.

While they had managed to score just four goals in the opening ten minutes of all their league games played to date, it took a mere two minutes for Cork to move into the lead. Cummins played a ball to Horgan, who then fed to Duggan and the Limerick born midfielder hit a sweet side-footed strike which took a heavy deflection before looping into the top right corner.

Monaghan had started in a defensive 4-5-1 formation but straight after conceding, they matched their opponents by going 4-4-2, Sean Brennan joining Declan O’Brien up front.  They did enjoy a short spell on top midway through the half, and almost equalised when Cork keeper Mark McNulty, who hasn’t been too inspiring for the Leesiders lately, fell asleep.

With 23 minutes on the clock, Sean Brennan’s cross was knocked on across the face of goal by his brother, Ryan, and McNulty stood still as the ball came off the upright. It was incredible to see the keeper’s failure to react but the danger was eventually cleared and City soon had some breathing space.

On 31 minutes a ball was played out from defence by Kalen Spillane and well inside his own half, with McDonagh’s knee up his backside, Cummins chested down and in the blink of an eye, turned the centre back before racing into Monaghan’s half. He refused to slow down and after making his way into the area, checked his run before picking his spot and striking low into the bottom corner.

It was pretty straightforward for Monaghan after the break. They simply had to improve to stand any chance of getting back into the game and immediately after the restart they fought hard but Cork continued to look very dangerous in attack while defending very well.

Ian Turner was unlucky on 55 minutes but Mons were getting their feet on a lot more ball and Willo McDonagh, who moved into midfield, forced McNulty into a very good stop, making amends for his lax-attitude in the opening half.

But just as it looked like Monaghan would pull one back, Cork sealed the deal with a deserved goal for Vinny Sullivan. Horgan played him in from the left and his cool finish from just six yards out put the final nail in United’s coffin with 23 minutes still to play.

Roddy Collins had to face chants of ‘Roddy, just a boy!’ from the home support, in reference to his unfair criticism of Cork boss Tommy Dunne earlier in the season but McDonagh pulled one back in the 70th minute with a low finish to the bottom corner.

City went straight back on the attack and almost made it four when Shane Duggan headed over after good work from Vincent Escudé-Candau, while Sullivan also made Sava save on 76 minutes, with Sean Brennan’s sending off ending any hopes of the away team making a come-back.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner (Cathal Lordan, 91), Gearóid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Graham Cummins (Vincent Escudé-Candau, 53) Vinny Sullivan (Andy O’Connell, 87).

Subs not used: Jason Forde, John Kavanagh, James McCarthy, Danny Morrissey.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava; Aidan Collins, William McDonagh, Alan Byrne, Shane Grimes; John Reilly, Eric Foley (Paul Whelan, 61), Ryan Brennan, Sean Brennan, Jason Marks; Declan O’Brien (David Byrne, 85).

Subs not used: Michael Isichei, Philip Byrne, Mark Grace, Jake Rossiter.

Referee: Padraig Sutton.

Official Attendance: 2,502

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Daryl Horgan – excellent on the wing, though Cummins was great before getting injured.