Cork City 1 - 0 Longford Town

• Alan Smith
• Fri, Apr 09 2010


Cork City have made it three wins on the bounce in front of over 2000 supporters at Turner’s Cross, beating a hastily prepared Longford Town by a solitary goal to nil.

Davin O’Neill’s superb 10th minute effort was enough to sink the away side, the striker netting for the fourth time this season. The goal itself saw Graham Cummins burst forward before squaring to the unmarked O’Neill who comfortably struck the ball into bottom corner.

The home side dominated the majority of the game, though Longford could have capitalised before half time as they squandered a host of chances. Cork were completely on top in the second half though and they thoroughly deserved the win on the balance of the 90 minutes.

Longford’s preparations had been dealt a bit of a blow when their bus broke down in Dublin, and Tony Cousins’ side only arrived at Turner’s Cross for 7pm. They were given a police escort from Abbeyleix onwards after the mishap though, which meant the game could go ahead on time.

The away side made three changes from the 3-1 defeat to Derry City last weekend – Thomas Hyland, Fiachra McArdle and Cathal Brady coming into the fold, with Peter Hynes and JP McDonagh dropping to the bench and Philip Byrne missing out due to injury.

Cousins will be bitterly disappointed with his team’s second half performance, after they had promised so much in the closing stages of the first half. They lined out in a 4-5-1 formation, with Derek Glynn up front on his own, but the early goal from Cork forced them to attack. They had a few chances in the opening period, but the home side looked entirely comfortable after the break.

Cork, meanwhile, were able to call on Stephen Mulcahy, Uros Hojan and Cathal Lordan, who all had doubts about their fitness coming into the game, though they could only name four subs due to other absentees.

Slovenian born wingback Hojan had two half-chances early in the game, firstly heading tamely at Aaron Shanahan before firing the ball across goal in the sixth minute. The pressure paid off in the 10th minute though, O’Neill placing the ball into the corner from Graham Cummins’ squared pass on the edge of the area.

Longford threatened for the first time just after the 20 minute mark when Cathal Brady crossed to Mark Salmon at the near-post, the midfielder could only bundle the ball into the side-netting. Cork seemed a little too relaxed at times midway through the half and another Salmon effort, after Cork failed to clear, was halted by Mark McNulty.

The away side certainly threw a bit more forward after going a goal down so early and Fiachra McArdle forced McNulty into another stop, the ‘keeper fumbling the ball around his own post on 36 minutes. There was a sense of déjà vu three minutes later as McNulty punched another McArdle shot out for a corner, the resulting kick ending with Thomas Hyland heading wide.

Longford couldn’t continue the good spell they had before half-time and the second half started slowly, though Cathal Lordan fired a free-kick straight into the arms of Aaron Shanahan on 57 minutes. Cork were well on top though for much of the second period, with O’Neill shining in a dominant attacking spell.

The striker had the ball in the net for a second time on the hour mark, but he was offside in the build-up, while he squandered another good chance to bring his tally to five for the season on 62 minutes, with his strike hammering off of the woodwork after Shane Duggan’s superb pass.

O’Neill was ultimately the difference between the sides and he was denied again on 69 by the feet of Aaron Shanahan after Graham Cummins passed to him, leaving Chris Deans in his wake. Deasy then played it to the rampant striker a minute later, yet again Shanahan making the save. Cathal Lordan also had a go in a dominant spell for the home team, shooting narrowly wide of the left post eighteen minutes from the end.

Longford tried to rally, but they struggled to get anywhere near Mark McNulty’s goal. A solitary half chance five minutes from the end was the closest that they came, as JP McDonagh had a cross-cum-shot easily held by the Cork shot-stopper.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Ian Turner, Stephen Mulcahy, Dave Rogers, Uros Hojan; Paul Deasy (Dave Warren, 71), Cillian Lordan, Shane Duggan, Cathal Lordan, Davin O’Neill; Graham Cummins.
Subs not used: Michael Devine, Dave Clancy, Rory Morrissey.
Booked: Deasy

Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan; Victor Ekanem, Chris Deans, Thomas Hyland, Kevin Cronin; Cathal Brady, John Lester (Dave Freeman, 84), Mark Salmon, Fiachra McArdle, Ryan McEvoy (JP McDonagh, 58); Derek Glynn (Peter Hynes, 79).
Subs not used: Gary Cronin, Peter Hynes, Philip Byrne.
Booked: McArdle

Attendance: 2152
Referee: Sean Grant
Extratime Man of the Match: Davin O’Neill