Cork rue misses as Linfield snatch win

CORK City will be kicking themselves for somehow failing to find the net in this Setanta Cup semi-final as Linfield made one of their few chances count to set up a final against Drogheda in Windsor Park on May 12.

In the absence of Roy O’Donovan, suspended after picking up a yellow in the last group game against Dungannon Swifts, Cork should have been boosted by the availability of striker John O’Flynn who passed a late fitness test after missing the 2-2 draw in Drogheda with a thigh strain. But with O’ Flynn barely lasting 50 minutes and Denis Behan failing to score despite numerous efforts, the visitors really missed O’Donovan’s the eye for goal.

For their part, newly-crowned Irish League champions Linfield were without striker Peter Thompson and manager David Jeffrey was looking to the partnership of Thomas Stewart and the veteran Glenn Ferguson to break down the Cork rearguard.