Shelbourne 1 - 1 Cork City

• Seamus Egan
• Fri, May 13 2011


Shelbourne and Cork City played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Tolka Park in this top of the table clash on Friday night. Karl Bermingham cancelled out Graham Cummin's first half strike to earn a point for Alan Mathew's team, however Cork may feel that they should have taken all three points.

City's Graham Cummins was a major threat to Shels in the opening period of the game, volleying just wide from outside the area on 14 minutes after some poor defending by the home team. Then, one minute later Cummins crossed dangerously to the back post but Davin O' Neill just failed to get there in time for the visitors.

On 22 minutes Shels could have gone in front. David Cassidy swung in a dangerous corner and Lorcan Fitzgerald broke free but failed to connect from six yards out.

However it was no surprise when City took the lead on 36 minutes. Davin O' Neill crossed from the left. Vinny Sullivan tried to nip in for the visitors and Lorcan Fitzgerald challenged the Cork striker but could only divert the ball onto the head of City's number nine, Graham Cummins, who headed past Dean Delany in the home goal. It wasn't the best defending from Fitzgerald but credit to Sullivan for causing a nuisance and to the ever dangerous Cummins for following up.

Shelbourne very nearly equalised shortly after going behind. Right back Gareth Mathews played a long ball into the Cork area where Shels’ striker Philip Hughes looked to have controlled the ball with his hand. However, referee Paul McLaughlin let play go on, allowing Hughes to advanced on goal, but his shot was blocked by the City keeper Mark McNulty.

Shels got off to a splendid start in the second half. On 48 minutes Karl Bermingham received the ball on the edge of the Cork area. There appeared to be little danger, only for Bermingham to turn sharply away from Kalen Spillane before firing in a shot which Mark McNulty saved. However the Shel's number 10 was first to react and fired past the Cork keeper for the equaliser.

After the goal the home team continued to have most of the play with Philip Hughes in  particular causing a real threat to the City defence. On 64 minutes he turned Neil Horgan brilliantly and Barry Clancy just failed to connect with his low cross. Clancy was involved again in the 74th minute, racing onto David McGill's long through ball but he shot wide from inside the Cork area.

However City finished the game the stronger and should have won it late on. Substitute Vincent Escude-Candau received the ball from Davin O' Neill just outside the Shels area and his fine effort was tipped over the bar by Dean Delany. The best chance that City had to win it came in the 88th minute. Shels gave the ball away once again in midfield and Cork captain, Greg O'Halloran, played in Escude-Canau but he somehow dragged his shot wide of the Shels goal.

The final few minutes were tense but failed to provide a winner and Cork manager, Tommy Dunne, may feel that this was an opportunity lost to take all three points against one of his teams rivals for promotion.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Gareth Mathews (Colm James 65), Lorcan Fitzgerald, Andy Boyle, Ian Ryan; Barry Clancy (Conan Byrne, 75), David McGill, David Cassidy, Brendan McGill; Philip Hughes, Karl Bermingham (Chris Mulhall 83).
Subs not used: Sean Byrne, Kevin Dawson, John Sullivan, Paul Skinner.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Stephen Mulcahy, Kalen Spillane, Gavin Kavanagh, Neal Horgan; Gearoid Morrissey, Davin O' Neill, Shane Duggan, Grag O’Halloran; Graham Cummins, Vinny Sullivan (Vincent Escude-Candau 76).
Subs not used: Ian Turner, Timmy Kiely, James McCarthy, Kieran Kenneally, Jamie Murphy.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 1,071.
Extratime.ie Man of the match: Davin O' Neill (Cork City).