- John O'Shea
- Sat, Oct 04 2014
In what was another memorable night at Turners Cross in the 2014 season, Cork City moved level on points with Dundalk on Friday night following their 2-1 win of Drogheda United.
This SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title race is going right down to the wire and John Caulfield has done a magnificent job to keep Cork in touch at the top.
Cork have been written off time and time again, but they just won’t go away and they are proving their doubters wrong by hanging on in there at the top of the table.
City manager Caulfield had said in the buildup that City cannot afford to drop any more points if they are to win the league title and his players have shown they have the stomach for the title fight.
As the week’s go by, it is looking increasingly likely that the Premier Division title will be decided when both Cork and Dundalk face off. What a game in prospect that looks like being.
It was a big night for Drogheda manager Damien Richardson, who returned to manage a side for the first time in Turners Cross since he won the Premier Division title for the Leesiders back in 2005.
Cork took the lead in the 12th minute of this encounter, when O’Sullivan’s cross found O'Flynn on the edge of the box and he teed up Dunleavy to score. It was a fine finish from the Donegal man into the bottom right hand corner. It was a good way for Dunleavy to end the week in which he signed a new contract extension with City.
Cork looked comfortable on the ball in the early stages going forward, passing the ball around beautifully. City had chances on goal and they went in at half time the happier.
Drogheda to their credit were competitive throughout and they grew into the game more as the half went on. Walshe and Holahan were among those who had half chances for United. They were keen to know City had a game on their hands.
Cork went 2-0 up in the 47th minute courtesy of a great individual goal from O Sullivan. The former Avondale United forward got on the end of a clearance from the back and ran towards the goal from 30 yards out. It was a great run and when all the hard work was done, he was calm and clinically finished across the goal past Schlingermann. It really was a super run and finish from the player who has to be one of the signings of the season.
O Sullivan, who has been magnificent in the League Of Ireland. as his first season in the Irish top flight approaches its conclusion. He almost got his 2nd goal of the night shortly after getting his first goal, but he headed just wide.
Midway through the 2nd half, Darren Dennehy went close himself when his shot went just over after what was a wonderful team move from Cork. A few minutes after that, brother Billy went close with a powerful effort from long distance that went just wide. The more the game went on, the more comfortable it got for City.
In the 75th minute, Drogheda went down to 10 men Gavin Brennan was shown a straight red card for a foul on Josh O’Shea.
Drogheda made sure there was to be a nervy conclusion as they got a goal back with 10 minutes to go. Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brian came on as a sub to score yet again against Cork City, when he ran through the Cork defence and slotted the ball past McNulty.
Cork City were able to see the game out though, as they ensured that the Premier Division title race will go right down to the wire.
Cork City:Mark Mc Nulty; John Kavanagh, Darren Dennehy, Dan Murray, Ross Gaynor; John Dunleavy (C), Dave O’Leary (Michael Mc Sweeney 86 ); Gary Buckley, Billy Dennehy (Rob Lehane 90 ), Mark O’Sulivan; John O’Flynn (Josh O’Shea 61).
Subs not used: Danny Morrissey, Gavin Kavanagh, Kevin O’Brian (gk), Liam Kearney.
Bookings:Ross Gaynor (22)
Drogheda United: Michael Schlingermann; Daire Doyle, Alan Mc Nally, Ciaran McGuigan, Shane Grimes (C) ; Gavin Holohan (Paul Andrews 85 ), Michael Daly, Stephen Maher (Declan O’Brian 68); Cathal Brady (Adam Wixted 60), Gavin Brennan, Carl Walshe.
Subs not used: Gareth Brady, Ciaran O’Connor, Roy Kierans, Dylan Connolly (gk).
Bookings: Michael Daly (18)
Referee: David McKeon
Attendance: 3,023
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: John Dunleavy (Cork City)
