SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE REPORTS
Dubliner bags brace as Cork go six clear of Dundalk
KARL SHEPPARD on the double. The Dubliner pounced twice in the first-half as Cork City eased six points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division with a 2-1 win at home to champions Dundalk.
The victory maintains Cork’s 100 per cent start to the campaign and manager John Caulfield was understandably delighted with a sixth win on the bounce in front of just shy of 7,000 fervent supporters at Turner’s Cross.
‘I was pleased with it, two great goals and we are well in control and in a comfortable position,’ Caulfield said.
‘They got a goal back and they were throwing the kitchen sink at us towards the end but we got the job done.’
Cork were without captain Greg Bolger in the middle of the park, Steven Beattie on the right side and John Dunleavy who again watched from the stands.
‘It was a good three points for us without three of our best players,’ Caulfield added. ‘It shows that when you are missing key players, you have lads to come in and do the job.
‘We had Jimmy Keohane at rightback, Conor McCormack in the middle on Paddy McEleney and Karl Sheppard doing what he does best and getting among the goals. It was a big win for us.’
Dundalk were dealt a blow of their own just seven minutes in when Robbie Benson was replaced by Conor Clifford due to a hamstring strain.
Cork had started brightly and took the lead in the 22nd minute with a classic counter-attacking goal.
Stephen Dooley fed Sean Maguire and his pace took him scampering away from Sean Gannon deep into the box. Cork’s top scorer looked up and squared for Sheppard who slotted the ball home.
Dundalk’s response had McEleney driving forward before Michael Duffy fired high and wide nearing the half hour mark.
Duffy had another effort saved by McNulty as he clashed with Kilduff in the box but referee Robert Roger waved play on with the visitors looking for a penalty. Cork then double their lead in the 37th minute when Maguire’s pass set up Sheppard who rounded Rogers for another tap-in.
Substitute David McMillan got a goal back for the visitors when he netted with a left-footed drive on 72 minutes from Kilduff’s lay-off.
That made for an interesting closing quarter, but just when it looked as if the champions might be able to force their way through, Kilduff was sent off for second yellow with six minutes to go. CORK CITY: McNulty; Keohane, Bennett (C), Delaney, O’Connor; Morrissey, McCormack; Sheppard, Buckley (Campion 75), Dooley (Griffin 93); Maguire (Ellis 90). Scorer: Sheppard 22, 37. DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland (C), Barrett, Massey; Shields, Benson (Clifford 7) – Stewart 52; Mountney (McMillan 69) McEleney, Duffy; Kilduff. Scorer: McMillan 72. Referee: Robert Rogers (Dublin); Attendance: 6,746.