- Stephen Walsh
- Mon, Mar 13 2017
Sean Maguire again proved that he is on fire for Cork City as his second half strike was enough to give Cork City a three point lead at the top of the table following Dundalk’s defeat away to Derry City tonight.
The first half was a tight affair with nothing separating the sides at the interval. The second half saw Kieran Sadlier open the scoring on 64 minutes before goals from Steven Beattie and Sean Maguire gave the rebel army the perfect start to the season as they remain the only unbeaten side in the Premier Division.
Cork City made one change to the side that defeated Drogheda United 4-1 in United Park last Friday night in the week’s televised clash with Jimmy Keohane starting against his former club in place of Gearóid Morrissey who dropped to the bench.
Sligo Rovers who had to claim three points in the league before visiting Cork where forced into making a late change with Raffaele Cretaro replacing Kyle McFadden who injured himself in the pre match warm up. Outside of that, Jonah Ayunga and Gary Boylan replaced Darius Kearns and Regan Donnelon respectively.
Sligo came into this game at a massive price of 12/1 and for all intents and purposes was being written off by a plethora of bookmakers with the bet of Cork City -1 proving particularly popular on the exchanges.
Sean Maguire who has been in super form lately was full of running up front and it required all of Sligo’s defensive power to keep the Kilkenny man quiet.
In the opening ten minutes, City bossed the majority of possession and Gary Buckley nearly had his first of the season when he shot wide on five minutes following good build up from the industrious Keohane.
Steven Beattie forced a brilliant save from Shaun Patton on 21 minutes as City tried to find the lead. Two minutes later John Dunleavy headed the ball over the bar from close range following a superb Steven Beattie corner.
Sligo was relying on counter attacks to try and get out of their own half with Jonah Ayunga the focus of all their attacks. He made one superb run the length of the field on 34 minutes skipping past a number of tackles before seeing his powerful shot tipped over the bar by Mark McNulty.
Near the end of the half, Gary Boylan was lucky to only receive yellow from Sean Grant for a heavy tackle on Keohane that ended up in scuffles by both sides.
The start of the second half saw Sligo fly out of the blocks with Kieran Sadlier’s shot from outside the box being parried by McNulty over the bar for a corner. The goalkeeper was playing his 120th consecutive league game for Cork City, a club record.
Sadlier, a supposed target for Cork City in the close season did his hopes of attracting John Caulfield’s attention no harm on 64 minutes when he disposed John Dunleavy and slotted the ball past the advancing McNulty.
City didn’t allow Sligo much time to enjoy their lead as they equalised straight from kick off. A long ball forward broke off Achille Campion and the ball fell to Beattie who finished to the net.
The home crowd had now found their voice and they were celebrating again on 76 minutes when a through ball from Gary Buckley found Maguire who scored for his sixth goal in his last six games.
Connor Ellis had an opportunity to get his third in three games but his shot hit the post from close range as City now prepare for a Patrick’s day tie against Shamrock Rovers while Sligo will be hoping for a first win against Bray Wanderers on Saturday.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Conor McCormack, John Dunleavy, Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Greg Bolger (Achille Campion 53); Steven Beattie, Gary Buckley, Jimmy Keohane, Karl Sheppard (Shane Griffin 83); Sean Maguire (Connor Ellis 90+1).
Subs not used: Alan Smith (gk), Stephen Dooley, Christian Nanetti, Gearóid Morrissey.
Yellow Cards: Beattie (76), Buckley (81).
Sligo Rovers: Shaun Patton; Tobi Adebayo-Rowlinng, Chris Kenny (Mikey Place 83), Michael Leahy, Gary Boylan, Liam Martin; Raffaele Cretaro, Craig Roddan, John Russell (Daniel Kearns 91), Chris Kenny (Mikey Place 83), Kieran Sadlier; Jonah Ayunga (Matthew Stevens 83).
Subs not used: Michael Schligerman (gk), John Mahon, Mark Hannon.
Yellow Cards: Roddan (25), Russell (38), Boylan (41), Kenny (75), Martin (79), Place (90+1)
Referee: Sean Grant
Attendance: 2,722
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Steven Beattie (Cork City)
