Cork City are in the hat for the next round of the Sports Direct FAI Cup after goals from Josh Honohan and Tunde Olowabi gave them a 2-0 victory over Treaty United at the Market Fields.
This was a Munster derby in every sense, as the two teams matched each other in every position on the pitch. It wasn't just about winning and getting through to the next round of the cup, this was all about getting a win in the context of the Cork/Limerick sporting rivalry.
City started the game with possession, and Treaty started with the first half-chance. This was a cross from the left but Dean George’s effort was easily blocked down by Ali Gilchrist.
The visitors turned their control of the game into a number of corners. They won four in the opening 20 minutes, and the best one that Barry Coffey put in was headed wide at the back post by Honohan.
As City rode a wave of expectation from the large contingent of travelling fans, Jimmy Corcoran was called into action. A cross from George hit Cian Colman inside the area and the goalkeeper poked the ball out for a corner with a reactionary save.
William Armshaw then got around Gilchrist, and a driven shot from 25 yards out grazed the crossbar.
City’s reaction nearly led to the opening goal of the game as Olowabi got into the box with just Conor Winn to beat. The goalkeeper saved and the loose ball went to Coffey, but his attempt from outside the area was stopped on the line by Mark Walsh.
The Rebel Army were re-energised by the break, and Cian Bargary restarted the game by stinging Winn's hands.
O’Brien Whitmarsh also set up Owolabi inside the area and the Treaty goalkeeper pushed this out for a corner. Coffey sent the ball in and Honohan’s header gave City the lead in the 54th minute.
Treaty tried to instantly respond, and a flurry of shots were easily dealt with by Cian Coleman and Gilchrist. When they tried crossing into the box, Corcoran was always there to catch the ball with ease.
City went up the pitch in the 77th minute and Coffey threaded a pass through to Olowabi. The striker neatly put this chance away and made it 2-0.
Treaty created very little in the minutes that remained, and Bargary was denied his side's third of the game with a save from Winn in the 90th minute.
Things got worse in injury time for the home side as Darren Nwankwo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Treaty United: Conor Winn; Ben O’Riordan, Marc Ludden, Lee Devitt, Dean George (Fionn Doherty, 81), Stephen Christopher, William Armshaw (Colin Kelly, 59), Enda Curran (Scott Kirkland, 80), Jordan Tallon (Colin Conroy, 60), Darren Nwankwo, Mark Walsh.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist (John O’Donovan, 82), Tunde Owolabi, Barry Coffey (Daniel Krezic, 82), Cian Bargary, Rokas Stanulevičius (Aaron Bolger, 68), Conor Drinan, Josh Honohan, Kevin Čustović (Oran Crowe, 90), Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh.
Referee: Damien McGraith.
