National League Premier Division/Shelbourne - 0 Cork City - 2: Roy O'Donovan was the catalyst for a victory that throws the Premier Division race wide open on a night champions Shelbourne may not like to dwell on too long as they look up to Cork, three points ahead of them at the top of the table.
Winger O'Donovan was the Cork player involved in challenges that resulted in Shelbourne full backs - Dave Rogers, late in the first half, and Owen Heary, early in the second - having to retire with injuries. He then scored the opening goal as the home team bayed for an offside en route to a third successive defeat.
Shelbourne set about the chief rivals to their title with all the confidence of a side that had not lost to them in the league in nine matches stretching back 30 months. Such was their early impetus Shelbourne might have been two goals up inside the opening five minutes.
Excellent goalkeeping from Michael Devine prevented the first when he read the run of Jason Byrne who beat the offside trap on to Gary O'Neill's incisive pass. O'Neill continued to have an early impact when working a one-two to open up the Cork defence for Joseph Ndo, who got under his shot which was dispatched well over the bar.
The Cork defence remained under pressure for the next 10 minutes or so, though chances for Ndo, again, and Heary were well off target.
Relief for Cork came from their talisman George O'Callaghan who brought the first save of the match from Steve Williams with a clever free-kick. Williams was stretched again just past the half hour, this time having to show his awareness out from his left-hand post to save with his feet from O'Donovan.
The home defence suffered its first telling blow with Rogers, in at left back for David Crawley, limping out with an ankle injury on 39 minutes. Though Stephen Brennan came in at right back and Heary switched flanks, it was a situation Cork almost exploited immediately.
O'Callaghan played a sublime ball through the inside right channel for Fenn. The rustiness of a striker, starting only his second league game of the season, was all too evident as Fenn found the middle row of the seating behind the goal. Fenn did find the target seconds before the interval, but his snap shot was straight at Williams.
O'Donovan's thumping challenge on Heary minutes into the second half had a telling effect on the game.Hobbling badly, Heary was left stranded as O'Callaghan chipped a ball in behind him to Fenn on 54 minutes. With Shelbourne screaming for offside, Fenn's cross was met by O'Donovan who looped a header over Williams for the lead goal.
Devine had to make a vital save from Ndo before Cork killed off Shelbourne with a sloppy second goal on 74 minutes. O'Callaghan again found the pass to substitute John O'Flynn whose shot was deflected to the net off Brennan.
It was Cork's night.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary (Hoolahan, 57 mins.), Harris, Hawkins 7, Rogers (Brennan, 39 mins); Ryan, S Byrne, Crawford, Ndo; O'Neill, J. Byrne (Crowe, 78 mins).
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Woods; O'Donovan (O'Halloran, 84), O'Callaghan, O'Brien, Gamble; Fenn, Doyle (O'Flynn, 64 mins).
Referee: D. McKeon (Dublin).
