Cork City 2 - 2 Sligo Rovers

• Alan Smith
• Sat, Jun 13 2009


A Rafael Cretaro inspired Sligo Rovers battled back twice from a goal behind to bring Cork City to the Showgrounds this Tuesday for a replay as this tie ended 2-2. It was a poor enough contest but the draw was the fairest result in front of a paltry 1853 supporters at a sunny Turner’s Cross.

Sligo were able to name a squad of sixteen and their starting eleven was very strong, with the influential Romauld Boco settling in well as Paul Cook deployed a 4-5-1 formation. Cork, meanwhile, stuck to 4-3-3 but Billy Dennehy and Faz Kuduzovic rarely found any joy as the wide players in the three man frontline.

With Joe Gamble and Stephen O’Donnell out of action, Shane Duggan made his first competitive start for Cork and his presence was felt when he opened the scoring in the 13th minute. Danny Murphy advanced down the field from left-back and his bending cross met the head of Duggan, who was left unmarked. Richard Brush was still in the former UCD midfielder’s way but Duggan produced a powerful header which crashed into the back of the net to give the Leesiders an early lead.

It was short-lived however, as Sligo levelled the tie in the 17th minute. Brian Cash crossed to Rafael Cretaro. He steadied himself and as Pat Sullivan slipped, played to Steve Feeney who duly slotted home to make it 1-1. It was poor defending from Cork, leaving Paul Doolin very unhappy on the sideline.

The Bit O’Red almost took the lead on 19 minutes when Cretaro chipped the stranded Dan Connor, only for the former Drogheda United goalkeeper to scramble back in time to keep the tie level. There was a lull in proceedings until Cork put themselves ahead again in the 35th minute.

Cillian Lordan done well on the left wing and Denis Behan was left unmarked at the front post to make it 2-1 to the home team with a simple tap-in. Half time was upon us shortly afterwards, but nothing of major interest occurred between the goal and the break.

Sligo were on top for much of the second period, as Cork failed to dominate in the middle due to the absence of the suspended Joe Gamble. Cretaro shot wide a minute into the half as the north-westerners looked to instigate some early pressure. However, they were dealt a blow when Gavin Peers was taken off with an awful injury that needed the attention of Cork City’s club doctor.

Cork never really threatened at all in the second half, though Cillian Lordan shot miles over, while Greg O’Halloran headed straight at a quiet Richard Brush from Colin Healy’s corner on 78 minutes.

The Leesiders looked to close things out, though never in confident fashion and they were made to pay after some poor marking in the 80th minute. Rafael Cretaro crept in and he fired a powerful right-footed effort past Dan Connor and into the back of the net. Sligo will deservedly get another bite of the cherry on Tuesday night at the Showgrounds - that is if Cork are still alive after they face the High Court on Monday.



Cork City: Dan Connor; Danny Murphy, Greg O’Halloran, Dan Murray, Pat Sullivan; Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Cillian Lordan; Faz Kuduzovic, Denis Behan, Billy Dennehy. Subs: Neal Horgan, Guntars Silagailis (Dennehy, 46mins), Mark McNulty, Alan O’Connor, Paul Deasy, Craig Duggan, Kevin Long

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Alan Keane, Shaun Holmes, Gavin Peers, Steve Feeney; Danny Ventre, Brian Cash, Richard Ryan, Owen Morrison; Romauld Boco, Rafael Cretaro. Subs: Sean Doherty (Gavin Peers, 49mins), Danny Keohane, Jason Noctor, Christopher Kelly, Ciaran Kelly

Referee: Mark Gough

Attendance: 1853

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Rafael Cretaro – the only stand-out performer on a dull night of football.