Cork City overcome dogged Galway thanks to Sheppard and Bennett goals

John Caulfield’s side continue unbeaten start to season

Karl Sheppard, seen here tangling with Shamrock Rovers’ Keith Fahey, broke the deadlock for Cork City against Galway United. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Karl Sheppard, seen here tangling with Shamrock Rovers’ Keith Fahey, broke the deadlock for Cork City against Galway United. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Cork City continued their unbeaten start to the league season, but this victory at Turner’s Cross wasn’t as easy as might have been expected.

Galway United frustrated the hosts for most of the first half, but once the deadlock had been broken through Karl Sheppard’s first goal for the club, a home victory was almost an inevitability.

Without Colin Healy and with three changes since the scoreless draw with Shamrock Rovers, John Caulfield’s side found Galway difficult to break down.

After the half-hour, they got going though, Gavin Holohan linking with Mark O’Sullivan, who forced a corner. From Billy Dennehy’s delivery, Sheppard managed to force the ball in at the back post.

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O’Sullivan went close again before half-time and after the restart Cork had more purpose to their play.

Ironically, it was in this period that Galway had their best chance of an equaliser, Stephen Walsh’s header hitting Jake Keegan and going over, but on 61 minutes the second goal arrived.

Again, Billy Dennehy was the architect, this time from a corner, as Alan Bennett powered home his first goal since re-signing for the club.

CORK CITY: McNulty, Kavanagh, Bennett, D Dennehy, Gaynor, Miller, Dunleavy, O'Sullivan (O'Flynn 56 mins), Holohan (Djilali, 72 mins), B Dennehy (Kearney 90 mins), Sheppard.
GALWAY UTD: Gleeson, Byrne, O'Connell, Walsh, Garcia (Rafferty 55 mins), Sinnott, O'Leary, Shanahan, Connolly, Molloy, Keegan.
Referee: P Sutton (Clare).