O’Donovan misses sitter as City struggle

CORK CITY and Dungannon Swifts will have to be content with a share of second place in Group 2 of the Setanta Cup after this scoreless draw in Stangmore Park last night.

And while Dungannon showed a vast improvement on their recent Irish League form, Roy O’ Donovan will rue missing a first-half open goal for a Cork side which struggled for long spells to find its feet in what was the club’s first proper outing of the season.

City will find out tomorrow if Colin Healy and Gareth Farrelly will be cleared by FIFA to join the club. Manager Damien Richardson gave competitive debuts to Darragh Ryan at left-back and 19-year-old Sean Kelly on the right side of midfield.

The small travelling Rebel Army were also able to welcome back Liam Kearney from his exile in Dublin, the “Conna Maradona” returning to his familiar position on the left side of midfield. But the City back four had a very new look about it with captain Dan Murray the only mainstay as Cillian Lordan, Brian O’ Callaghan and former UCD man Ryan took their places in the absence of Horgan, Bennett and Murphy.

Dungannon made three changes from the side which lost 2-1 to Ballymena at the weekend, as Harry Fay’s side looked to put an end to a run of four defeats on the spin.

For much of the first half, it was the home side who made the running, an uncertain Cork defence struggling to cope with the direct Dungannon attack and the skill of David Scullion.

City keeper Michael Devine pulled off a fine save to keep out the winger’s angled drive after 14 minutes and, as Dungannon kept up the pressure, both Cillian Lordan and Colin O’Brien picked up yellow cards after resorting to foul means to stop threatening moves developing up Cork’s vulnerable right flank.

Yet it was Cork who came closest to breaking the deadlock after 35 minutes when O’Donovan offered an early entry for miss of the season, getting onto the impressive Darragh Ryan’s raking ball over the top and rounding keeper Dwayne Nelson, only to then roll the ball inches wide of the empty goal.

It was a real head in the hands moment for the Cork striker but, before the break, it was heart-in-mouths stuff for the visitors, who had Devine to thank for first keeping out a volley from Scullion and then brilliantly saving at point-blank range from Paul Baron.

The second half was barely 30 seconds old when City had a big shout for a penalty after Adam McMinn appeared to take down O’Donovan as he blazed a trail into the box. But referee Frank Hiles waved play on.

Cork were livelier in a second 45, but the game was evenly contested, Rodney McAree wasting a free header in front of goal for Dungannon while Denis Behan’s forced Nelson into a full length dive at the other end.

But the last word almost went to the visitors in time added-on when skipper Dan Murray saw his speculative lob into the box bounce freakishly over ‘keeper Nelson who managed to touch the ball onto the bar before the rebound was cleared.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS: Nelson, Wray, Gallagher, Montgomery, McMinn, McCluskey, McCabe (Fitzpatrick 22), McAree, McAllister, Baron (Hamill 76), Scullion (Everaldo 89)

CORK CITY: Devine, Cillian Lordan, O’ Callaghan, Murray, Ryan, Kelly (Softic 64), Gamble, O’ Brien, Kearney, O’ Donovan, Behan.

Referee: Frank Hiles (Coleraine).