Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Cork City

On a bitterly cold Friday night in Tallaght Shamrock Rovers and Cork City drew 1-1 in an eventful Airtricity League game. Derek Foran's late late goal earned Rovers a point with Darren Dennehy sent-off for City midway through the second half.

The home team started the better of the two sides. They had most of the possession and created the first chance of the game in the 8th minute. Billy Dennehy swung in a corner from the right. Ken Oman rose highest but headed well over the bar. Just moments later Ronan Finn pulled it back for Shane Robinson in the area but Robinson couldn't keep his shot down.
 

Rovers should have taken the lead in the 29th minute. Mark Quigley turned brilliantly and put Billy Dennehy through on goal. However Dennehy hesitated and John Dunleavy got back to get in a tackle to prevent the shot.
 

Tommy Dunne's team took the lead slightly against the run of play in the 34th minute. Former Shamrock Rovers striker Daryl Kavanagh played a lovely ball in behind the home defence and found Adam Rundle on the left. Rundle's cross eventually broke to Colin Healy just inside the area. Healy controlled it and shot low into the corner of the net past Barry Murphy. That was the first goal that the Hoops conceded in the league this season.

Cork nearly doubled their lead in the 43rd minute. Daryl Horgan played a ball across the edge of the Rovers area and found  Rundle. Cork City's number 11 hit a fine shot on the half volley which just shaved the post.
 

Trevor Crolly's side had a goal controversially disallowed in the 54th minute. Stephen Rice crossed from the right. Mark Quigley went in for a challenge with Mark McNulty and the ball broke to Gary McCabe 6 yards out. McCabe found the net but referee Derek Tomney ruled it out presumably for a foul on the goalkeeper.
 

City nearly got a second soon after. Gearoid Morrissey crossed from the left and found Daryl Horgan. Horgan's scuffed shot was cleared off the line by Derek Foran.
 

In the 65th minute City defender Darren Dennehy was sent-off after a two footed tackle on  substitute Stephen Rice. The home team dominated the game afterwards and Ken Oman will feel that he should have equalised in the 74th minute. He rose unchallenged from a Gary McCabe corner but headed across the face of goal and wide. Quigley then shot over from outside the area in the 81st minute.

Quigley was involved again in the 85th minute. His header found substitute Ciaran Kilduff. Kilduff hit it first time on the half volley from inside the area but his effort was just too high.
 

Rovers never gave up though and were rewarded in the 94th minute. Ronan Finn crossed from the right.  Quigley headed it down and centre back  Foran was there to knock it into the net from close range. City's brave resistance was broken and the game finished in a 1-1 draw.

 

Shamrock Rovers; Barry Murphy; Pat Sullivan (c), Ken Oman, Derek Foran, Conor Powell; James Chambers (Tommy Stewart 81);  Ronan Finn, Shane Robinson (Stephen Rice 46); Gary McCabe Mark Quigley , Billy Dennehy (Ciaran Kilduff 58).
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Conor McCormack, Karl Sheppard, Danny Ledwith.

Booked: Pat Sullivan (55).

 

Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Darren Dennehy, Kevin Murray (c), Danny Murphy;    Gearoid Morrissey; Daryl Horgan (Kalen Spillane 70), Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Adam Rundle (Ian Turner 92); Daryl Kavanagh (Denis Behan 70).
Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Danny Furlong, Danny Morrissey, Garry Buckley.

Booked: Mark McNulty (67), Denis Behan (85).
Sent-off: Darren Dennehy (65).

Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 3,500 (estimate).
Extratime man of the match: Mark Quigley (Shamrock Rovers).