Setanta Cup: Cork City 2 - 0 Dungannon Swifts

Last updated : 08 March 2006 By Gerry Ormonde

Cork's U21 international winger, Roy O'Donovan, reacted angrily when he was sandwiched in a tackle by Shane McCabe and John Paul Gallagher in the 28th minute. He clashed with McCabe after jumping off the ground. The referee immediately showed the yellow card to McCabe he produced a red one for O'Donovan after consulting with his assistant.

O'Donovan had caused Dungannon a lot of problems with his lightning pace and his departure was a blow to Cork. But the incident also caused them to react and they stepped up their play to dominate to half-time when they subjected the Dungannon defence to a lot of pressure.

They jumped in front in the 40th minute when Danny Murphy won a vital tackle on the half-way line and fired a great ball over the top of the Dungannon defence for John O'Flynn. It looked as if John Paul Gallagher was about to cut the ball out when he slipped and fell and O'Flynn took advantage to squeeze a shot under the body of goalkeeper David Wells from 12 yards.

A second goal for Cork within two minutes of the start of the second half was crucial. George O'Callaghan was fortunate to be awarded a free when he was tackled by Jonathan Montgomery, but he picked himself up to take full advantage with a glorious shot from 25 yards high into the roof of the net.

Dungannon played some neat constructive football in central midfield early in the game and twice they might have scored before Cork. Their American centre-forward David Bulow had a shot from 18 yards deflected for a corner by the dominant Danny Murray in the 8th minute and Michael Ward was narrowly too high wi th another effort.

Dungannon had to play without their midfield playmaker, Rodney McAree, and they kept leading goalscorer, Timothy Adamson, on the bench until the 62nd minute. Adamson, with 17 goals for Dungannon this season, had one header well saved by goalkeeper Devine but overall Dungannon found it difficult to penetrate Cork's powerful defence.

Teams: Cork City: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Brien, Gamble, O'Callaghan; O'Donovan, Fenn, O'Flynn. Sub; Woods for Fenn 75.

Dungannon Swifts: Wells; Wray, Montgomery, McCrystal, Gallagher; Scullion, Delgado, McCabe, Everaldo; Ward, Bulow. Subs; Adamson for Gallagher 62; McMinn for McCrystal 70; Fitzpatrick for Delgado 78.

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