Cork City 2 - 1 Dundalk

• Alan Smith
• Sat, Oct 31 2009


Cork City are just one point away from securing 3rd position thanks to a 2-1 victory over Dundalk at Turner’s Cross last night.

Having fell behind mid-way through the half, the home team battled back and goals from Kevin Long and a Faz Kuduzovic penalty saw the Leesiders take the points against a Dundalk side which ended the game with nine men.

The first sign of intent came from the left boot of Faz Kuduzovic, who blasted over from 25 yards 11 minutes in. Just two minutes later Dundalk skipper Thomas Heary almost headed into his own net from a threatening Faz Kuduzovic cross, as Billy Dennehy’s strike from the resulting corner was gathered by Peter Cherrie.

Although against the run of play, Dundalk took the lead when Ger Rowe played a speculative cross-field ball to Shaun Kelly and he controlled before unleashing a powerful half-volley which dipped just under the bar to beat Mark McNulty 18 minutes in.

The home team immediately went in search of an equaliser and Davin O’Neill forced Cherrie into making a superb stop after he proved too pacy for the Dundalk defence.

Danny Murphy’s cross-cum-shot looked like it might creep into the net on the half-hour mark but it curled just too late.

O’Neill then spurned a glorious chance to level proceedings when Faz Kuduzovic’s corner was side-footed wide just six yards from goal as Cork continued to look for an equaliser. The same man then missed a similar chance on 37, with the cross coming from Cillian Lordan on this occasion. O’Neill was central to most of Cork’s attacking play and he blasted over again with his left-foot three minutes before the break.

The two sides were then reduced to ten men a minute before the break as referee Richie Winter showed red cards to Danny Murphy and Paul McAreavey for a nasty incident on the half-way line. Chris Turner retaliated to a mis-timed challenge from Billy Dennehy and as they both got booked, every single player on the pitch rushed into the centre circle as a mass-brawl ensued.

Cork started the second half brightly and they levelled proceedings in the 51st minute when Billy Dennehy’s shot struck a post before making its way into the path of Faz Kuduzovic who placed the ball onto the crown of Kevin Long. The defender muscled himself into space before heading the ball into the net.

City then went close to going ahead on 55 when O’Neill got the better of the Dundalk defence yet again, though he continued his wayward shooting by dragging his left-footed effort from just inside the area narrowly wide of the mark.

Cork continued to pressurise the Lilywhites and Shaun Kelly chopped down Faz Kuduzovic inside the area, as the Bosnian stepped up to tap the resulting spot-kick into the net 23 minutes from time to edge the home team in front.

Kelly, who was originally the hero for Dundalk, was then sent off for his second bookable offence a minute later as he took down Billy Dennehy on the left wing and the away team were reduced to nine men.

Dundalk couldn’t muster a solid a reply, though Darren Mansaram blasted way over in the 79th minute. The game petered out in a quite uneventful manner, as Cork held onto the ball with their advantage.

Cork City: Mark McNulty, Neal Horgan, Greg O’Halloran, Kevin Long, Danny Murphy, Billy Dennehy, Cillian Lordan, Stephen O’Donnell, Stephen Mulcahy, Davin O’Neill, Fahrudin Kuduzovic.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Shane Kelly, Liam Burns, Thomas Heary, Chris Turner, Darren Mansaram, Alex Williams (Martin McGowan, 74’), Michael McGowan, Paul McAreavey, Michael Coburn, Ger Rowe.

Referee: Richie Winter

Man of the Match: Faz Kuduzovic

Attendance: 1863