- John O'Shea
- Sat, Aug 02 2014
Dundalk moved six points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division thanks to a 2-1 win over Cork City at Turners Cross on Friday night. A packed Turners Cross witnessed what was one of the biggest games on Leeside in years.
City made four changes from the team that started against Bohemians last week, including giving a debut to new signing Ross Gaynor. Dundalk made one change from the 5-1 win over Bray with Chris Shields coming in for Ruaidhri Higgins.
After a bright opening from both sides, it was Dundalk who were to strike first when Richie Towell finished past Mark McNulty into the right hand corner. Daryl Horgan, who spent the past three years with Cork, was the person who made the goal courtesy of his driving run at the City defence. The ball deflected off a number of players before falling at the feet of Towell who finished brilliantly.
Horgan, who was playing his first game at Turners Cross since leaving Cork, was a constant danger for much of the night and was unlucky not to get a goal himself when his powerful shot went just wide.
Dundalk and Towell could, and probably should, have doubled their lead just before half time. He volleyed over from inside the box with the whole goal to aim at. But Dundalk were ahead and deservedly so at the break.
City came out for the second half with more purpose to their game going forward. John Caulfield introduced the likes of John O’Flynn to try and change things but the Dundalk defence remained resolute. Chris Shields was among those who stood firm at the back and good tackling from him was one of the main reasons Dundalk got the three points in the end.
But Cork’s pressure paid off with seven minutes left. It was Darren Dennehy who headed in from a free kick on the right from his brother Billy. The goal was the least that City deserved as they had most of the ball in the second half. The home support started to believe that they could complete the turn around and get the win.
But it was Dundalk who were to go on to get the winner. Brian Gartland was the man who got what could turn out to be a crucial goal in the title race. He found the net despite the fact that he was surrounded by a number of City players.
So it was Stephen Kenny’s side who emerged victors in what could be a huge step for Dundalk towards the league title. Cork , who are now 6pts behind, are not out of it but the matter is now taken out of their hands . Dundalk’s destiny is in their own hands, as they look for their first league title since 1995.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor (Danny Morrissey 73); Colin Healy, Gearóid Morrissey (Liam Kearney 79) ; Josh O’Shea (John O’Flynn 57), Garry Buckley, Billy Dennehy; Mark O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Kevin O’Brien (gk), John Kavanagh, Gavin Kavanagh, Dave O’Leary,
Bookings: Murray (9), B Dennehy (10), D Dennehy (27).
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Chris Shields; Darren Meenan (John Mountney 70), Kurtis Byrne (Ruaidhri Higgins 59), Daryl Horgan (Donal McDermott 77); Patrick Hoban.
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), David McMillan, Mark Rossiter, Marc Griffin.
Bookings: Meenan (10), Towell (22).
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
Attendance: 5,650
Extratime Man of the Match: Chris Shields (Dundalk)
