- Stephen Walsh
- Fri, Mar 03 2017
Cork City easily dismissed the challenge of Galway United in front of 3,335 spectators at Turners Cross tonight.
Four goals from Sean Maguire, Ryan Delaney, Stephen Dooley and Connor Ellis was enough to give John Caulfield’s side the three points.
Cork City made one change to the side that defeated Finn Harps away at a rain drenched BallyBofey last weekend with captain John Dunleavy being replaced by Alan Bennett at the heart of the home defence.
Galway made two changes with both Gary Shanahan and Vinny Faherty dropping to the bench in place of Conor Melody and Padraic Cunningham as Manager Shane Keegan set about claiming their first points of the season after losing to Drogheda United last week.
The visitors kicked off proceedings and had a few half chances but none were really troubling home goalkeeper Mark McNulty.
Maguire had the first real shot of note on 10 minutes when a low drive from the edge of the box required Nugent to be at full stretch to tip the ball around the post for a corner.
But the home side were still looking dangerous and Maguire would open the scoring five minutes later when he profited from a mistake by Nugent to fire the ball into the goal from close range.
Galway’s best chance of an equaliser in the opening half came through ex City player Gavan Holohan when he skipped by the challenge of Alan Bennett before curling a shot the wrong side of McNulty’s post.
Maguire was a live wire up front with Stephen Dooley giving plenty of support when seeing a few dangerous crosses fly across the goal unable to find a player in green. Nugent made a few more saves but the momentum was all with City as Dooley dragged a late shot wide as both sets of players took shelter from the rain for the interval.
The momentum soon allowed City to extend the lead further on 53 minutes when on loan defender Ryan Delaney rose highest to head home a Stephen Dooley cross following a short corner routine with Kevin O’Connor.
Galway was struggling by now to get any power going forward and went further behind on 64 minutes through Dooley. Greg Bolger set up Jimmy Keohane who played the ball to Dooley who lobbed the ball over Nugent for his side’s third goal of the night.
The remainder of the half was played out with a series of half chances but there was still time for Connor Ellis to score his first league goal for City finishing off an attacking move.
Galway will be hoping for points against Finn Harps next week while City will travel to Drogheda United.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Conor McCormack, Alan Bennett, Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Steven Beattie (Achille Campion 78), Gearóid Morrissey (Connor Ellis 81), Greg Bolger, Jimmy Keohane, Stephen Dooley; Sean Maguire (Karl Sheppard 61).
Subs not used: Alan Smith (gk), Christian Nanetti, Shane Griffin, Conor McCarthy.
Yellow Cards: None.
Galway United: Ciaran Nugent; Colm Horgan, Lee Grace, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Gavan Holohan (Jesse Devers 84), David Cawley; Kevin Denvansy, Ronan Murray, Conor Melody (Vinny Faherty 72); Padraic Cunningham (Alex Byrne 72).
Subs not used: Conor Winn (gk), Gary Shanahan, Aaron Conway, Declan Sharkey.
Yellow Cards: Holohan (29)
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Attendance: 3,335
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Maguire (Cork City)
