HOBAN DRY
Striker’s happy homecoming continues as he punishes Cork
DUNDALK laid down a marker with this win as they seek to reclaim the Premier Division title from their great rivals.
The Lilywhites had numerous chances to make it an even more comprehensive victory over champions Cork City but, in the end, it was a first-half howler by goalkeeper Mark McNulty which gifted them all three points.
Make no mistake, Dundalk were full value for the win and will be disappointed not to have turned it into a rout with some of their American investors sitting in the stands.
The new owners would have been greatly impressed, even if there was an element of comedy about the winning goal. There appeared little danger when Ronan Murray’s fourth-minute free-kick was fired straight at the 37-year-old, but at the last moment he spilled it and Pat Hoban was on hand to punish the error by turning in from close range.
Dundalk battered their opponents after that, even missing a penalty, and should have won by a more comfortable margin but Stephen Kenny’s side will take huge confidence from this result having failed to beat City in their last eight attempts dating back to October 2016.
By contrast, John Caulfield’s side weren’t at the races, managing just one shot in the second half despite some late pressure.
Conor McCormack and fellow midfielder Garry Buckley were booked for late challenges on Robbie Benson and Chris Shields respectively early on and skipper McCormack was replaced by Barry McNamee after just 21 minutes in order to prevent him being sent off.
Just before that Cork had another let-off when an attempt from Murray was cleared off the line by Shane Griffin. Michael Duffy then went agonisingly close to a second on 32 minutes when he cut in from the left only to curl a shot just wide.
Most of the visitors’ attempts up until that were confined to long range efforts, mostly from Kieran Sadlier, but they did have a golden opportunity to equalise when McNulty’s kick-out was flicked on by Graham Cummins. That was enough to put McNamee in on goal and he was denied by Gary Rogers, with Daniel Cleary doing well to divert Sadlier’s follow up out for a corner.
Dundalk also went close to a second on the stroke of half-time when Hoban’s knock down was latched on to by Murray, whose effort flashed inches wide.
The home side continued to threaten on the restart with Duffy firing wide once more before Murray stung the palms of McNulty with a shot outside the box.
Hoban pulled a glorious opening wide from 10 yards before Jamie McGrath fired straight at McNulty after a poor clearance from Aaron Barry.
McGrath and Hoban were then involved in teeing Murray up for another chance a minute later but once again the effort was too close to McNulty who turned it behind.
The keeper almost dropped his second clanger of the game from the resulting corner and Dundalk fans thought the insurance goal would arrive on 74 minutes when their side was awarded a penalty after Benson went down under a challenge from Barry, only for the midfielder’s spot kick to be well saved to his right by McNulty.
Cork piled on the pressure on in the closing stages but they could find no way past a resolute home defence.
The Lilywhites held out for a victory that sent a very clear message that they want their title back. DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Hoare, Cleary, Massey; Shields, Benson; McGrath (Jarvis 93), Murray (Chvedukas 78), Duffy; Hoban (Tagbajumi 89). Scorer: Hoban 4 CORK CITY: McNulty; Beattie, McCarthy, Barry, Griffin; Morrissey, McCormack (McNamee 21); Sheppard, Buckley (Keohane 78), Sadlier; Cummins. REFEREE: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).