Stephen’s day again in play-off
Longford Town 1 Cabinteely 1
CORK CITY beat UCD 3-2 at Turner’s Cross last night as Neale Fenn got his first win as’ boss to secure the Rebels Premier Division status.
Defeat all but confirms UCD’S relegation. College sit six points adrift with a hugely inferior goal difference to Finn Harps with two games to play.
City broke the deadlock on 34 minutes with their first goal in five games. Gearoid Morrissey’s sublime ball over the top put Karl Sheppard in to cut inside a defender and shoot low past Conor Kearns in the College net.
EX-UCD midfielder Daire O’connor (right) doubled Cork’s lead on 64.
Dara Keane pulled a goal back for the College eight minutes later before they had Liam Kerrigan sent off.
Conor Mccormack got City’s third goal right on 90 minutes. A stoppage time penalty from UCD’S Jack Keaney was mere consolation.
Greg Bolger scored the only goal of the game as FAI Cup finalists Shamrock Rovers beat Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium.
Midfielder Bolger smacked a volley home from the edge of the area after a 79th minute corner.
Cabinteely win 3-1 on pens
STEPHEN MCGUINNESS was the Cabinteely hero with three penalty saves in the shootout to put them into the play-off semi-final.
Skipper Mcguinness saved from Jack Doherty, Aaron Dobbs and Paul O’conor before Rob Manley rifled in the winner.
Cabinteely now meet Drogheda United with the first leg back at Stradbrook next week.
After a subdued opening, Longford blew a glorious chance to take the lead on six minutes when Dylan Grimes had his shot brilliantly cleared off the line by Eoin Massey.
That quality defending was absent at the other as Cabinteely snatched the lead on 18 minutes. Lee Steacy did exceptionally well to save from Manley and Marty Waters but Paul Fox arrived to drill home.
Longford pressed hard and got their reward with the equaliser from a second successive corner on 41 minutes. Doherty put over a superb delivery that was met by Dobbs whose flick header gave keeper Mcguinness no chance.
Five minutes after the break, Town winger Dean Byrne shot tamely when racing through.
Town were almost caught napping from a 68th minute quick throw-in by Keith Dalton that found Fox who shot wide across goal.
Minutes later home defender Conor Kenna had to clear off the line but it was Cabinteely skipper Mcguinness who excelled with the save of the game on 77 minutes, diving to his left to push substitute Sam Verdon’s drive out. Cabinteely
started the
first period of extra-time on the front foot with Waters and Keeley coming close. Dobbs had Town’s best chance in extratime but headed right at Mcguinness.