SoccerWrap

Cian Murphy’s goal gives Cork City the three points against Dundalk

Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s all enjoy wins on Easter Monday

Cork City's Cian Murphy scores against Dundalk at Turners Cross on Monday evening. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Cork City's Cian Murphy scores against Dundalk at Turners Cross on Monday evening. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Mon Apr 10 2023 - 19:24

Cork City 1 Dundalk 0

Cork City secured a crucial victory in the League of Ireland Premier Divison against Dundalk at Turners Cross on Monday afternoon.

In what was a tight opening half, Dundalk enjoyed the majority of the possession in the first half an hour but saw clear cut goal chances generally at a premium. The closest the visitors came to scoring was in the opening minutes through Johannes Yli-Kokko.

On 37 minutes it was Colin Healy’s side that went into the lead. After a flick on by Ruairi Keating into his path, Cian Murphy raced through and slotted home neatly with a low finish in front of a delighted Shed End.

Dundalk had a great chance to level on 72 minutes when a Rayhaan Tulloch strike from outside the box went inches wide, with the same man shooting into the side netting a few moments later.

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City managed the game effectively and defended well until the full time whistle. Next up for Colin Healy’s City side is an away trip to take on UCD. While Dundalk will face Derry City at home at the weekend.

Cork City: Corcoran; Coleman, Gilchrist, Bolger, Keating, Bargary (Crowley, 71), Honohan, Murphy (Varian, 77), Čustović, Häkkinen, O-Brien-Whitmarsh (Coffey, 69).

Dundalk: Shepperd; Davies, Boyle, Lewis (Ward, 57), Kelly (Martin, HT), Sloggett, Mueller, McCourt (Hoban, 72), Yli-Kokko (O’Kane, 57), Malley, Tulloch.

Referee: Sean Grant

Shelbourne 2 Sligo Rovers 1

A terrific Matty Smith strike and an own goal brought Shelbourne a come-from-behind victory in a game of two halves at Tolka Park.

Such is the tightness of the table below leaders Bohemians, that Shelbourne, who began the night third from bottom, now leapfrog Sligo who were third, up to fifth place.

Despite an early chance for Jack Moylan which Luke McNicholas saved, Shelbourne were on the back foot for the entire first half.

Sligo initially caught the home side cold on the counter on seven minutes. Will Fitzgerald’s cutback fell to Stefan Radosavljevic who somehow shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Shelbourne were carved open all too easily once again 10 minutes later. A McNicholas clearance was threaded through by Radosavljevic for winger Fitzgerald who blasted his shot off the crossbar.

Conor Kearns then excelled with a superb reflex save to keep out a Nando Pijanker header from a Fabrice Hartmann free kick before Sligo’s pressure told on 36 minutes.

Hartmann’s corner was met by left-back Lafferty whose header Kearns nor John Ross Wilson, on the line, could keep out.

Making three changes as the break, Shelbourne turned the game on its head within 13 minutes. Shane Farrell, one of those substitutes, crossed to the back post for the equaliser on 52 minutes. Smith took an excellent first touch to finish superbly.

An own goal then gifted Shels their winner as Farrell’s long ball looked to pose no danger.

Sligo defender John Mahon’s flicked header wrong-footed McNicholas who then slipped and watched as the ball rolled into his net.

A fine save from Kearns denied Frank Liivak at the other end within a minute as Sligo chased an equaliser that never materialised.

Shelbourne: Kearns; Quinn, Barrett, Griffin; JR Wilson (Farrell, HT), Lunney, Coyle (Hakiki, 54; McManus, 87), T. Wilson (Ledwidge, HT); Leavy (Caffrey, HT), Smith, Moylan.

Sligo Rovers: McNicholas; Liivak, Mahon (Clancy, 68 mins; Morahan, 93), Pijnaker, Lafferty (Hutchinson, 68); Bolger, Browning (Barlow, 68); Hartmann, Vastuk (Radosavljevic, 5), Fitzgerald; Mata.

Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).

Shamrock Rovers 3 UCD 0

Shamrock Rovers’ bid to retain their title was resurrected over the Easter weekend amassing an impressive six points from two Dublin derbies in quick succession.

Having overcome bitter rivals Bohemians on Friday night, the Hoops knew a further three points were imperative and got the job done thanks to a Graham Burke double and a Jack Byrne strike from distance.

Although a stubborn UCD side played their part in the encounter, and fresh from an impressive point at home to Shelbourne three days previous, the hosts’ attacking quality proved just too much in the end thanks to a well worked move in which Burke was the grateful recipient.

With less than a half-hour played Burke doubled his side’s lead smashing home from a volley from close range.

Just before the hour mark Students keeper Kian Moore gifted Byrne the third failing to deal with a shot from the left, parrying the ball up and into his own net, sealing all three points for the hosts.

Andy Myler’s side remain rooted to the bottom as The Hoops continue the climb to the summit where they feel they belong, now just seven points behind league leaders, Bohemians.

Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus, Darragh Nugent, Sean Hoare, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Trevor Clarke, Markus Poom (Johnny Kenny, 62), Jack Byrne (Neil Farrugia, 62), Dylan Watts (Justin Ferizaj, 68), Graham Burke (Conan Noonan, 68), Rory Gaffney (Sean Gannon, 82)

UCD: Kian Moore, Daniel Norris (Daniel McCarthy, 74), Luke O’Regan, Jack Keaney, Dara Keane, Jesse Dempsey, Sam Clarke (Harry O’Connor, 62), Brendan Barr, Ciaran Behan, Colin Bolton (Alex Nolan, 55), Jake Doyle (Divine Izekor, 74)

Referee: Damien MacGrath (Mayo)

Drogheda United 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 3

Chris Forrester fired St Patrick’s Athletic to a third straight victory as they continued their recent dominance over Drogheda United with a deserved victory at Weavers Park.

The home side were missing manager Kevin Doherty following his sending off at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium last Friday but their win there underlined his unfancied team’s ability to beat anyone in the division, regardless of status.

They could do nothing to stop St Pat’s continue their recent fine form, however. Forrester’s two first half goals, either side of Dylan Grimes’ equaliser, ensured Tim Clancy’s team made it nine points from the nine available since the international break.

The midfielder hit the game’s lead goal from the penalty spot. Jarlath Jones was adjudged to have handled Jay McGrath’s headed flick-on. Given how close the players were to each other, it seemed harsh but referee Kevin O’Sullivan displayed no uncertainty in reaching the decision.

Grimes was well placed to finish after Freddie Draper’s run into Pat’s territory was halted just inside the area. The ball fell his way and he produced a composed finish. The visitors from Inchicore soon reassumed control.

After Colin McCabe saved from Jamie McClelland, the ball was worked to Forrester. He deftly turned away from his man and left Colin McCabe stranded with a shot into the bottom corner. Eoin Doyle added a third late in injury time as Drogheda pressed for a leveller.

Drogheda United: McCabe; Heeney (Davis, 81), Ahui, Keeley, Jones; Deegan, Brennan; McNally (Leddy, 57), Grimes, Rooney; Draper.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Lyness; Curtis, Redmond (Lewis, 64), McGrath, Breslin; Lennon, Forrester, Timmermans (Murphy, 77); McClelland; Lonergan (E Doyle, 64), Mulraney (M Doyle, 23).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan