SADLIER BREAKS WANDERERS’ HEARTS
CORK’S double dream remains alive as they advanced to the last16 in their defence of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup.
With more away fans than home supporters at the Carlisle Grounds in front of the second smallest crowed of the season (531), Kieran Sadlier’s first goal for the Premier Division champions elect last night kept them on course for a third final in a row.
Despite being available after a ban, home custodian Peter Cherrie was injured in the warm-up and was replaced between the sticks by Lee Steacy. Having recorded a clean sheet on his full debut against Bohs last week, the 24-year-old saved Sadlier’s second-half penalty only for the former Irish Youth cap to score the winning goal in style soon after.
Shane Griffin played a 55thminute one-two with Sadlier down the left flank and was brought down in the box by Aaron Greene. However, Steacy dived to his right to keep out the spot-kick.
Yet, the former Sligo Rovers man did break the deadlock just four minutes later.
From Griffin’s left-wing throw-in, he exchanged passes with Sadlier, who spun and brilliantly curled in his first City goal with a cracking right-footed effort from 16-yards that found the far top corner.
A goal-line clearance by Wanderers skipper Conor Kenna stopped sub Achille Campion from adding to City’s lead in the 69th minute.
The Wicklow’s side’s top-scorer Gary McCabe was only sprung from bench in the second period. He almost forced extra-time in the 88th minute with a 30-yard freekick that Mark McNulty parried under the crossbar.
Steacy was only tested once more in the first half – in the 37th minute – when Karl Sheppard latched onto Garry Buckley’s pass only to drive his 12-yard effort straight at the custodian. Sheppard had twice gone close with his deft touch diverting the ball narrowly wide close in after 17 minutes following good work by Sadlier.
Just after the half-hour mark, Sheppard played a one-two with Steven Beattie along the right channel but drove across the face on goal on the run from 15-yards.
As for the Seagulls, Ryan Brennan glanced a header wide in the 12th minute while his snap-shot right on half-time flew wide. BRay wandeReRs: Steacy; Buckley, Kenna, Clancy, Moore; Sullivan, Salmon (Lynch 84); Brennan, Noone (McCabe 64), Marks (Pender 59); Greene. coRk city: McNulty; McCormack, Delaney, Williams (McCarthy 81), Griffin; Bolger, Morrissey; Beattie (Campion 61), Buckley, Sadlier; Sheppard. ReFeRee: R Harvey (Dublin).