- Sebastian O'Driscoll
- Sat, Apr 19 2008
Cork City affirmed their title aspirations with a clinical three goals to nil win over Finn Harps at Turners Cross on Friday night. Goals from Liam Kearney, Denis Behan and George O'Callaghan were enough to give the Leesiders all three points and make it four wins on the bounce in all competitions.
City dominated the game and had plenty of early chances, but had to wait until the 33rd minute to make the crucial breakthrough. Joe Gamble fed the ball to Dave Mooney on the edge of the box. He slipped a nice ball through to Kearney, who finished neatly into the right hand corner, leaving Finn Harps 'keeper Gavin Cullen no chance.
Seven minutes later City scored again, when Mooney played a nice one-two with Neal Hogan down the right wing before crossing into Behan in the six yard box. He crashed a close range volley into the top corner, again giving Cullen little chance.
City sealed the points three minutes into the second half when Kearney broke down the right hand side and crossed the ball into a crowded Harps box. Shaun Holmes only managed to half clear the danger, as George O'Callaghan picked up the ball on the edge of the box and shot first time to Cullen's near post. The Harps keeper could only get a hand to the ball but couldn't prevent it from going in.
After O'Callaghan's goal there was little doubt who would be taking the spoils, however Harps fought gamely until the final whistle. In fact they began the brighter, and after just two minutes Conor Gethins beat the City offside trap and got through on goal, only to fluff his shot and watch it roll harmlessly wide. Cork's first real chance came eight minutes in, when O'Callaghan headed narrowly over from close range from a looping Kearney cross.
Moments later, Harps were on the attack again when defender Aaron Labonte broke down the right hand side and crossed to an unmarked Gethins in the box. The Finn Harps striker failed to connect properly and the ball bounced wide of the goal post, but his blushes were saved as the lineman had adjudged him to be offside.
After that Harps' chances dried up as City took complete control and monopolised possession in the centre of the field. O'Callaghan and Behan both had half chances before the break, but Cullen was equal to their efforts. The second half was more of the same as Gamble and Healy dictated the pace of the game. Harps were finding it increasingly difficult to hold onto the ball with City hunting in packs for the ball with greater urgency. The first yellow card of the evening was produced to City's Danny Murphy for a clumsy slide tackle on the halfway line.
Finn Harps brought on Stephen Parkhouse in place of Kevin Ramsey to try and shake up their stuttering forward line. In the 78th minute Gamble came close to getting City's fourth when he managed to create a bit of space for himself to get a powerful shot off. However Cullen's positioning was excellent and he parried the ball out to the left for a corner.
In the dying minutes, O'Callaghan played substitute Alan O'Connor through down the left wing for a one on one with the keeper, however Cullen saved well at the near post. It was the last chance of a match that will have left Cork in confident mood ahead of next clash with champions Drogheda Utd at Turners Cross.
Cork City: Michael Devine; Neal Horgan, Dan Murray (c), Cillian Lordan, Danny Murphy; Colin Healy, Joe Gamble, George O'Callaghan, Liam Kearney; Denis Behan (Darren Murphy 90), L Kearney, Dave Mooney (Alan O'Connor 83).
Subs not used: Mark McNulty, Darragh Ryan, Colin O'Brien.
Booked: Danny Murphy.
Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; Aaron Labonte, Marc Mukendi (Sean Roddy 87), Stuart Malcolm, Shaun Holmes; Marc Brolly, Declan Boyle, Shaun McGowan (Michael Funston 46), Shaun Willams, Conor Gethins; Kevin Ramsey (Stephen Parkhouse 63).
Subs not used: James Gallagher, Gerry Gill.
Booked: None.
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey.
Attendance: 3,127
