FIRST BLOOD
Sadlier is spot on in battle of title rivals
CHAMPIONS Cork City are right back on track in the defence of their Premier Division title after a hard-fought victory over fellow contenders Shamrock Rovers before over 4,400 fans at Turner’s Cross last night.
It took a goal from a set-piece, a 38th-minute penalty from Kieran Sadlier, to split the teams after a highly charged and competitive top four contest on the Curragh Road.
Rovers came south on the back of two six-goal outings against Bray Wanderers and Derry City and just two points behind the league leaders but left Leeside empty-handed.
The Hoops made two changes with Ethan Boyle and Trevor Clarke ruled out and Joey O’Brien and Luke Byrne coming into the team, while the champions also made two changes with Sean McLoughlin in for Steven Beattie and Barry McNamee in for Garry Buckley who made the bench.
Rovers, under Stephen Bradley, are genuine title contenders and they went with a 4-1-4-1 formation against City’s 4-2-3-1 set up and it all made for a fascinating clash between first and fourth in the Premier Division table.
City’s Mark McNulty passed a late fitness test but neither Alan Bennett nor Danny Kane made the bench.
The action opened at a frantic pace with some meaty challenges and Rovers’ had fullback O’Brien yellow carded for a bad tackle on Conor McCormack after just nine minutes.
Rovers had the best opening but Aaron Barry did well to block Dan Carr’s close-range effort as the visitors settled the quicker on a perfect night for football.
A confident Rovers side created another excellent chance when O’Brien and Burke combined to set up Sean Kavanagh and his 25yarder flashed just outside McNulty’s right hand post.
McNamee nearly picked out Cummins on 36 minutes but Byrne cleared the danger and in Cork’s next attack they won the decisive penalty.
McNamee’s cross was met by Cummins, whose looping header came back off the post and in the race for the loose ball Rovers’ keeper Kevin Horgan upended Cummins and
referee, Robert Harvey immediately pointed to the spot.
Sadlier stepped up and sent Horgan the wrong way with a low drive down the middle with the keeper diving away to the right.
It was a goal against the run of play but it was enough to give the champions a slender half-time advantage.
Six minutes into the restart and Cork were close to doubling their lead when Karl Sheppard skipped past two tackles and crossed only for McNamee to side-foot wide.
Ronan Finn clipped a half chance over and then Cummins stabbed a Sadlier cross wide and Gearoid Morrissey blazed over the bar. Rovers were denied a late equaliser when Byrne’s header hit the bar six minutes from time. CORK CITY (4-2-3-1): McNulty
6; McCarthy 6, Barry 7, McLoughlin 7, Griffin 8; McCormack (capt) 6, Morrissey 6; Sheppard 6, McNamee 6 (Buckley 77), Sadlier 7 (Keohane 85); Cummins 6. Subs not used: AdebayoRowling, Howard, O’Hanlon, Horgan, Cherrie.
SHAMROCK ROVERS (4-1-4-1): Horgan 6; O’Brien 6 (Coustrain 70), Grace 7, Gilchrist 6 (Lopes 47), Byrne 6; Bone 8; Miele 6 (Clarke 67), Finn 6, Burke 6, Kavanagh 6; Carr 6. Subs not used: Shaw, McAllister, Boyd, Chenchinski.
Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin)