Healy hits a stunner as City hold Leeds

Cork City 1 Leeds United 1

The former Republic of Ireland midfielder livened up what had, up to that point, been a typically tame friendly with a stunning effort from 25 yards five minutes after the break, which gave Leeds’ Cork-born goalkeeper Eric Grimes no chance.

City boss Tommy Dunne gave game time to all of his squad, apart from a flu-stricken John Dunleavy and Denis Behan, who is still making his way back to fitness since rejoining the club last week, and that made for a disjointed game, with the entire team changed at the interval.

It looked like Healy’s effort would be the only goal of the game until Sanchez Payne earned a share of the spoils with five minutes to go however, the substitute finding the bottom left corner with a neat finish from eight yards.

Luke Parkin went close in the final minute with a low drive from the edge of the area, but it finished level as City turn their focus towards Monday night’s competitive opener, against Cliftonville in the Setanta Cup.

CORK CITY first half: Kevin Burns; Neal Horgan, Kevin Murray, Darren Dennehy, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner, Gearóid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Danny Furlong, Daryl Kavanagh.

CORK CITY second half: Mark McNulty; Eoghan Murphy, Dan Murray, Kalen Spillane, Jason Forde; Stephen Kenny, Garry Buckley, Gavin Holohan, Colin Healy, Adam Rundle; Danny Morrissey.

LEEDS UNITED: Eric Grimes; Lewis Turner, Monty Gimpel, Ross Killock, Jordan Snodin; Alex Pruver (Sanchez Payne 61), Nathan Turner, Lewis Walters (Eoghan Walters 52), Alex Mowatt; Mattieau Mansett (Luke Parkin 52), Patrick Antelmi (Jake Skelton 61).

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Picture: Cork City’s Ian Turner fires in a shot during last night’s friendly against Leeds United at Turner’s Cross. Picture: Larry Cummins