O’Flynn goal gives City first win in five games

Cork City 1 Shamrock Rovers 0

O’Flynn’s headed goal in the 65th minute was a glorious reward for Cork who were forced to play with 10 men from the 36th minute after the dismissal of Alan Bennett. The centre-back was shown the red card when he hand-tripped Glen Fitzpatrick as the Rovers player burst clear of the defence and seemed about to score.

It was a hugely disappointing setback for Bennett who has endured an extraordinary run of ill-luck in recent matches. Yet, out of adversity, Cork found the courage and determination to contain Rovers and the energy to deny them a single worthwhile scoring opportunity throughout a long and exhausting second half.

This win will rank with anything Cork achieve this season but, in truth, the game featured more frenzy than finesse. The trend was set in a raggle-taggle first half that produced a contest that was largely without pattern.

Cork impressed initially, dominating midfield where Colin T O’Brien and Greg O’Halloran denied Rovers the time they needed to get into the game. There was a drive and a tempo to Cork’s game that promised much. They were almost in after 20 minutes when Stephen Gough’s pass-back was under-hit and George O’Callaghan beat goalkeeper Barry Ryan in the race for possession.

His run took him too wide to find the target and when he pulled the ball back for John O’Flynn, Terry Palmer was there to turn it outside for a corner.

Within two minutes they were again knocking at Rovers’ door. O’Brien linked with O’Callaghan and he angled a glorious pass into O’Flynn’s path. The striker was knocked over by Palmer as he stretched to intercept but the yellow card for Palmer and the subsequent free was of little consolation to Cork. The appearance of Derek Coughlan for the second half was like a rallying call to Cork. They again invested their work with the intensity they had shown in the early minutes and succeeded in checking Rovers’ growing influence.

O’Flynn played a critical role, rampaging with typical abandon in a lone striking role while O’Callaghan dropped into midfield to bring a degree of order to their work. It was hard work for Cork for Rovers used the ball accurately, but they have never lacked for effort. They reduced the threat from the flanks and the loss of penetration up front meant that Rovers were never again as dangerous. Cork simply refused to yield and a precious goal after 65 minutes gave City all the incentive they needed to maintain their high-energy commitment.

The goal followed a corner from the right by O’Callaghan that fell for Doyle 18 yards from goal. His left-foot volley was powerfully struck and goalkeeper Barry Ryan did well to parry the ball. But he was not given time to recover as John O’Flynn reacted swiftly to head the ball home.

The measure of Cork’s achievement was indicated by the inability of Rovers to again confront Devine as they had done in the five minutes before half-time. Cork’s 10 men defended with sustained brilliance and Rovers’ attack was reduced to powder-puff proportions. Cork should have had a second when Doyle disco-danced his way in and out of three attempted tackles before sending O’Halloran streaming on goal in the 85th minute.

O’Halloran was overhauled by Gough as the full-back slid in to turn the ball to safety. They were back again in search of a second in the 90th minute. O’Halloran was again a central character, powering a volley from 15 yards that goalkeeper Ryan again did well to parry. Inevitably, O’Flynn was there to turn the ball into the net but from an offside position.

It mattered little as Cork put up the shutters to ensure that the dynamic centre-forward’s first goal in five matches produced their first win in the same time-frame.

CORK CITY (4-4-2): Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Woods; Doyle, C. T. O'Brien, O'Halloran, Casey (Coughlan 46); O'Callaghan, O'Flynn.

SHAMROCK ROVERS (4-4-2): Ryan; Gough, Palmer, McGuinness, Keddy; Robinson (Molloy 71), Deans, Reynolds (Colwell 70), S. Grant; Fitzpatrick, T. Grant (R. Byrne 79).

Referee: J. O'Neill (Waterford).