- Stephen Walsh
- Sun, Mar 26 2017
A brace from Karl Sheppard helped give Cork City three points today in front of a sold out Turner's Cross. Not even a late goal from substitute David McMillan was enough to stop City from moving six points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
City made two changes from the side that defeated Shamrock Rovers 2-1 last Friday, with Alan Bennett and Karl Sheppard starting in place of injured duo Steven Beattie and John Dunleavy.
Dundalk, on the other hand, made no change to the starting line up that defeated St Patrick’s Athletic 3-0 in Oriel Park last week.
Sean Maguire, who is a danger to every defence in the league, almost scored for the third game in a row against Dundalk when he blocked down Gary Rogers from close range, but he shot wide.
Mark McNulty had his first save of note on three minutes when he was required to be at full stretch to palm away a Sean Gannon cross.
The game was played at a quick pace and had everybody in the almost 7,000-strong crowd fully entertained with both ‘keepers punching away a number of dangerous crosses.
And the man of the moment Maguire was involved in the game’s opening goal on 22 minutes as he ran down the line before squaring the ball to Sheppard to finish from close range.
Dundalk rallied quickly afterwards in the hope of clawing back a goal, and Michael Duffy saw his shot saved by McNulty only for the ball to fall to Kilduff. He appeared to fall under a Ryan Delaney tackle but the referee Rob Rogers waved away the protests.
The Lilywhites' task was made harder on 37 minutes when Maguire was given plenty of space to play a superb ball behind the Dundalk defence to Sheppard, who took the ball around Rogers before firing into the net.
Ciarán Kilduff picked up a yellow card on 41 minutes for hand bags, which was to prove costly later on in the game.
Michael Duffy had the opening shot of the second half but McNulty made a smart save as the visitors looked to close the deficit.
McEleney was being blocked and marshalled by Conor McCormack excellently during the game but he got space on 73 minutes to hit a ball into the box that was layed off by Kilduff to McMillan, who finished from the edge of the box.
Kilduff got sent off for a lunge on McCormack on 84 minutes when Dundalk were trying their best to close the deficit but, despite a few nervy moments with penalty appeals, City held out for their third consecutive victory over Dundalk.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Jimmy Keohane, Alan Bennett, Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Conor McCormack; Karl Sheppard, Gearóid Morrissey, Gary Buckley (Achille Campion 76), Stephen Dooley (Shane Griffin 90+3); Sean Maguire (Connor Ellis 90+1).
Subs not used: Alan Smith, Christian Nanetti, John Kavanagh, Conor McCarthy.
Booked: Garry Buckley (39), Sean Maguire (61).
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Paddy Barrett, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson (Conor Clifford 8 (Thomas Stewart 53));Michael Duffy, Patrick McEleney, John Mountney (David McMillan 69); Ciarán Kilduff.
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Jamie McGrath, Sean Hoare, Niclas Vemmelund.
Booked: Ciaran Kilduff (41 & 84), Brian Gartland (56).
Sent off: Ciaran Kilduff (84).
Referee: Rob Rogers.
Attendance: 6,746
Extratime.ie Player of the match: Karl Sheppard (Cork City).
