BUCKLEY NETS A BRACE FOR CHAMPIONS
CHAMPIONS Cork City kept up the pace with Dundalk at the top of the Premier Division with a comfortable win over Limerick FC at the Markets Field. Garry Buckley’s crisp finish from an excellent Kieran Sadlier cut-back on 52 minutes and a beautiful curling effort late on from the same player secured the convincing triumph for the Leesiders. Both sides started the game brightly with Will Fitzgerald creating an early half-chance for Shane Duggan, but the Limerick captain was unable to direct his volley on target. Cork nearly opened the scoring with their first meaningful attack in the 11th minute. Colm Horgan’s cross to the back post beat goalkeeper Brendan Clarke and hit the bar. Buckley put the ball back across goal for the waiting Graham Cummins who subsequently went down but his penalty appeals fell on deaf ears after the flag went up for offside. John Caulfield’s side began to take control as the first half came to a close with efforts from Cummins, Steven Beattie and Horgan coming close to putting them in front. Their best chance of the first half came from a drilled Barry McNamee free-kick that saw Cummins rise highest but he was unable to get enough contact to beat Clarke with his header from close range. Neat interplay between Will Fitzgerald and Cian Coleman resulted in a chance for the winger, however his shot from 20 yards was closer to the corner flag than Mark McNulty’s goal. Limerick lost the influential Conor Clifford to a hamstring injury at the break and Cork took advantage soon into the second half with Buckley’s goal. A long Conor McCarthy ball over the top deceived Shaun Kelly and Kilian Cantwell. Sadlier brilliantly controlled and pulled back for the waiting Buckley and he coolly put Cork ahead with a crisp, low finish before adding a stunning second goal late on.