eircom League: Cork City 2-1 Shelbourne

Last updated : 16 May 2006 By Gerry Ormonde
Shelbourne threatened to cause an upset with a goal from a penalty against the run of play in the first half, but Cork came back with some exciting and progressive football to prove themselves worthy winners.

Had they taken a flurry of goal-scoring chances that were created in a hectic final five minutes they would have won even more convincingly and overall they had an advantage over Shelbourne who struggled to match Cork in midfield and struggled to break down Cork's resourceful defence.

The risk was, however, that the issued would be decided in Shelbourne's favour by a penalty that came in the 40th minute against the run of play. Jason Byrne surging clear of the defence and then went down under the challenge of goalkeeper Michael Devine before picking himself up to score from the penalty.

The goal fired Cork to renewed effort and they responded in the best possible fashion. O'Halloran was penalised for a foul on O'Brien 30 yards from goal near the right wing and O'Callaghan struck a glorious free that swerved in the air and flew into the net off goalkeeper Delaney's hands.

Cork built on this to play some captivating football and a second goal arrived in this golden period four minutes into the second half. Cillian Lordan caught left-back Dave Rogers completely out of position with a pass that opened a path to goal for Roy O'Donovan. O'Donovan could have scored himself but he still managed to turn the ball square to allow Neale Fenn volley the ball into an empty net from ten yards.

Cork should have wrapped it up in added time when John O'Flynn was given a clear run through but he shot against the advancing Delaney and then O'Donovan put an equally good chance from the rebound over the bar.

Cork City: Devine; Horgan (Lordan 21), Bennett, Murray, Woods; O'Donovan, O'Brien, O'Callaghan, Gamble; Fenn (Behan 79), O'Flynn.

Shelbourne: Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Dillon (Baker 80), Rogers; Kearney, S. Byrne, O'Halloran (Reynolds 45), Cahill; J. Byrne, O'Neill (Crowe 60).

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