Sport

Cork reap reward from a double dose of luck

League leaders Cork City were thankful for two strokes of good luck in retaining their three-point advantage at the top of the…

Mon Jan 04 1999 - 00:00

League leaders Cork City were thankful for two strokes of good luck in retaining their three-point advantage at the top of the Premier Division with a win over Sligo Rovers at Turner's Cross yesterday.

The major turning point was Noel Mooney's penalty save after 54 minutes, preserving Cork's first-half lead which had come from a fortunate own goal. The goal came after 35 minutes when John Caulfield and Mark Herrick combined in midfield to release Gareth Cronin on the left wing. His cross was deflected by Matthew Hare into his own net as the centre back miscued an attempted clearance.

Despite that stroke of good fortune, Cork deserved the lead, outplaying Rovers for much of the first half although they never succeeded in putting Sligo goalkeeper Nick Brujos in difficulty.

The picture changed dramatically in the second half as Cork, playing their third match in eight days, tired on a very heavy pitch.

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Sligo reasserted themselves and looked sure to claim an equaliser when Wesley Charles broke clear of the defence only to lose his feet under pressure from Cronin, just as he was about to shoot.

Then it was the turn of Mooney, who saved spectacularly from Conor O'Grady's well struck penalty to preserve Cork's lead and deliver their second dose of good luck.

"A win today was vital and after winning three matches now in eight days, I think talk of a slump has been off the mark," said Cork manager Dave Barry afterwards.

Meanwhile, a disappointed Sligo manager, Nick Reid, said: "I think we deserved something from the match because we played well enough and matched them. But I seem to be saying that every week and our supporters must be fed up with listening to me."

Cork City: Mooney, Daly, Coughlan, Hill, Cronin, O'Brien, Flanagan, Herrick, Cahill, Hartigan, Caulfield. Subs: Morley for Hartigan (79), Barry-Murphy for Herrick (80), Cotter for Caulfield (90).

Sligo Rovers: Brujos, Callaghan, McGlynn, Hare, Hutchinson, Hallows, Reid, O'Grady, Rowlands, Flannery, Charles. Subs: Lynch for Rowlands (81), Oates for Flannery (84).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).