Cork City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers
Cork City and Shamrock Rovers have both lost further ground on SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders Dundalk following a 0-0 draw at Turner’s Cross.
Defenders reigned supreme on Leeside as City, four points ahead of Rovers heading into the contest, failed to break through their opponents’ resolute defence.
Brandon Miele tested Mark McNulty with a long-range effort in the first half.
However, the best chance of the game fell to Garry Buckley eight minutes from time when he landed an excellent header on to the Rovers crossbar.
John Caulfield retained faith in the side that ground out an important win at Limerick last time out, while Pat Fenlon made one change and introduced Ryan Brennan in place of Danny North in the Rovers line-up.
The home side got proceedings underway 15 minutes later than scheduled because of the away team’s late arrival at the ground. The contest was almost immediately halted by an injury to Maxime Blanchard, but the defender was able to continue following a couple of minutes of treatment.
Billy Dennehy, having scored a hat-trick in his previous league appearance at Turner’s Cross, tried his hand from distance with three minutes on the clock but his effort ultimately drifted well wide of Craig Hyland’s post.
Rovers, playing in their purple kit, lined out in a well-organised 4-2-3-1 formation, and it was Simon Madden and Keith Fahey that combined well on nine minutes to allow Michael Drennan his first decent chance. Mark McNulty was equal to the test on this occasion, however.
Ryan Brennan caused plenty of problems at the back for the Leesiders throughout the first half and almost capitalised on a misplaced pass from Colin Healy on 14 minutes when he twisted and turned Darren Dennehy about before driving his shot to the right and wide.
Brandon Miele fired in an effort from 30 yards out three minutes later, but though McNulty initially dropped the ball between his legs, he gathered at the second attempt.
Good play from Liam Miller and Billy Dennehy allowed the latter another opportunity from long range on 19 minutes, but the shot fizzed away from goal and was never in danger of breaking the deadlock.
It did, however, mark the beginning of a sustained period of pressure from the hosts. However, probe as they might, they couldn’t pierce the Rovers rearguard despite at one stage pushing the entire visiting team back into their own half for several minutes.
Darren Dennehy looked sharp when he intercepted some neat play between Madden and Miele early in the second half and Rovers were on the attack again two minutes later, but Drennan couldn’t get a clean shot away having been feed good possession by Luke Byrne.
The home side created their best chance of the game to that point just before the hour mark when Billy Dennehy’s corner found Mark O’Sullivan at the back post. However, Darren Dennehy could only redirect his header back inside straight at Hyland in the Rovers goal.
Most of the 4,138-strong crowd were on their feet appealing for a penalty five minutes later when Miller forged through into the Rovers box and found O’Sullivan with a superb ball. The striker tussled with Conor Kenna and fell to the floor, while the chance was cleared.
Substitute Buckley clattered the crossbar with a powerful header on 82 minutes from a Healy free out by the right line, but neither side could force a goal in a contest during which defenders came out well on top.
The result leaves Dundalk six points clear of Cork City with an additional fixture in hand.
Cork City: Mark McMcNulty; John Kavanagh, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Kevin O’Connor; Colin Healy, Gavan Holohan (Garry Buckley ’65), Liam Miller; Billy Dennehy (Ross Gaynor ’81), Mark O’Sullivan, Karl Sheppard (Rob Lehane ’81).
Substitute: John O’Flynn, Alan Smith, Michael McSweeney, Liam Kearney
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Connor Kenna, Maxine Blanchard, Luke Byrne; Pat Cregg, Keith Fahey, Ryan Brennan (Gary McCabe ’86), Brandon Miele, Gavin Brennan; Michael Drennan (Kieran Waters ’77).
Substitutes: Michael Kelly, Tim Clancy, Sean O’Connor, Gareth McCafferey, David O’Connor.
Referee: Paul Tuite
