Cork City 1-0 Dundalk
A wonderful individual goal from Stephen Dooley blew the race for the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title wide open as Cork City recorded a precious 1-0 win over leader Dundalk at Turner’s Cross.
Having already beaten their rivals at Oriel Park earlier in the campaign, City went into this fixture four points behind, but that gap is now just one heading into the summer break.
The game’s only goal came from the boot of Dooley, the winger finishing a mazy run down the left-hand side with a superb finish – though Sean Maguire had to clear a ball off his own line as the game ticked into added time.
The hosts made one change from the side that beat Longford Town last weekend with Kenny Browne returning from injury and Colin Healy dropping to the bench.
The visitors, for their part, introduced three changes from their last outing – Darren Meenan, Stephen O’Donnell and Paddy Barrett replacing John Mountney, Robbie Benson and Sean Gannon.
Something had to give on the night – either the best home record in the league, which was City’s, or the best away record in the league, which belonged to the League champions.
The Leesiders started strongly, with a huge crowd of 5,453 encouraging them on right from the first whistle. An early setpiece from Greg Bolger was easily gathered by Gary Rodgers on four minutes before a run from Gavan Holohan was deflected wide for a corner shortly afterwards.
Dundalk were not without their own opportunities though. A Daryl Horgan free kick, swung in from the left, caused brief panic at the back for City and Ronan Finn had a shot blocked before Kevin O’Connor eventually managed to punt the ball clear.
The chance spurred Kenny’s men into life and they continued to look dangerous for a time with Horgan and Finn prominent.
Dooley’s goal, when it arrived in the 25th minute, came against the general run of play. A superb tackle in midfield by Gearóid Morrissey allowed Maguire flick the ball to the winger in space.
The former Derry City man then raced clear from the half-way line and hooked a fine left-footed shot around Andy Boyle and just inside the far post from a tight angle.
Dooley was heavily involved once again when the home side might have grabbed a second just past the half-hour mark. City’s number 11 made a nuisance of himself down the left and found Steven Beattie by the penalty spot with a neat pass. The Dubliner failed to make clean contact though and Dundalk were able to clear.
The visitors were reduced to ten men four minutes before half time. Shields launched into a flying tackle on Beattie; however, despite attempting to pull away from his opponent at the last minute, referee Rob Rogers pulled a red card from his back pocket and the midfielder had to make the long walk past the Shed on his way to the dressing rooms.
The second half of the contest was just a minute old when Bolger let rip a powerful effort from 30 yards out after Dooley had been muscled off the ball.
Kenny had seen enough at this point and decided to bring David McMillan ashore for Ciarán Kilduff, who himself enjoyed a fine loan spell at Turner’s Cross in 2013. However, at least initially, it was City that pushed forward in chase of another score.
Alan Bennett had his shot followin a corner blocked by Dave Massey on 57 minutes, before City had a massive chance to extend their advantage 10 minutes later. Maguire was fouled in the penalty area by Boyle after trapping a throw from Michael McSweeney and Rogers pointed straight to the spot.
Having missed a penalty already this season, Maguire walked away and it was Dooley that placed the ball for the spot kick. However, once the crowd settled, the Ballymoney man blasted his effort horrendously high over the crossbar and into the Joe Delaney Stand.
Morrissey failed to test Rogers with a weak, bobbling effort from the edge of the area on 77 minutes before Dane Massey and then Kilduff had two half chances to get Dundalk back on track.
Maguire cleared a header from Kilduff off his line in the final minute of normal time before the Lilywhites’ striker blazed a ball wide of the post a minute later.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Michael McSweeney, Alan Bennett, Kenny Browne, Kevin O’Connor; Greg Bolger; Steven Beattie (Mark O’Sullivan ’82), Gavan Holohan (Garry Buckley ’61), Gearóid Morrissey, Stephen Dooley; Sean Maguire (Colin Healy ’90).
Substitutes not used: Danny Morrissey, Karl Sheppard, Alan Smith, Ian Turner.
Dundalk: Gary Roger; Paddy Barrett, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields; Darren Meenan (Robbie Benson ’68), Stephen O’Donnell, Ronan Finn, Daryl Horgan (Patrick McEleney ’71); David McMillan (Ciarán Kilduff ’49).
Substitutes not used: Gabriel Sava, John Mountney, Shane Grimes, George Poynton.
Referee: Rob Rogers
