CITY PAT IN THEIR PLACE

Champions slide to defeat after Hoban strikes

CORK CITY discovered that lightning rarely strikes twice as Dundalk stole the champions’ thunder following a Mark Mcnulty blunder.

After gifting Patrick Hoban an early opener, the pantomime villain around these parts atoned to save a late Robbie Benson penalty – but it was too little, too late.

This was as one-sided a 1-0 victory as you will see all season and the Lilywhites could have won by six or seven on another night.

In last month’s President’s Cup, Cork came from 2-0 down at the break to win 4-2 after a stunning second half show of strength.

But they were all at sea here as Stephen Kenny’s charges – who have yet to concede in the league – played some scintillating stuff. Mcnulty’s clanger cost Cork dear but skipper Conor Mccormack was hauled off after 21 minutes before he was sent off – and it summed up their night.

You could not take your eye off the action for a second. It was tremendous entertainment throughout and Dundalk wasted no time establishing a firm hold.

Without a win against their fierce rivals in the last seven meetings, they stunned the Leesiders after just four minutes.

And for the home crowd at least there was a degree of karma about it all.

Ever since the balance of power shifted Cork’s way, Mcnulty has done quite the job of winding up the Lilywhites.

But he was guilty of a howler here, spilling the impressive Ronan Murray’s free under no real pressure with Hoban reacting well to stab home.

And thereafter, Dundalk lit into their opponents and it’s a wonder how they were not out of sight by the break.

Cork were suffocated under wave after wave of attack with Michael Duffy, Jamie Mcgrath, Murray and Hoban all on song.

Dane Massey and Murray teased with deflected shots before Cork’s night went from bad to worse.

Three of Mccormack’s four reds in the League of Ireland have come against Dundalk and he was booked here just after the goal.

With tensions boiling over on occasion – and Mccormack rarely too far away – Caulfield whipped him off before he walked.

The optics were certainly bad but Dundalk did themselves no favours either by continually haranguing referee Paul Mclaughlin and waving imaginary cards.

Cork’s only chance of note saw Kieran Sadlier flash wide after Gary Rogers saved well from a Mcnamee shot before half-time.

But Dundalk’s intensity never waned after the break.

Hoban thought he had a second only to drag his shot just wide while Mcnulty then saved Benson’s late penalty after Steven Beattie brought the midfielder down.

What could have been a seven point gap between the title heavyweights, is down to just one.