Ndo compounds Cork’s misery

Shamrock Rovers 3 Cork City 0

They lost Joe Gamble to a red card and Pat Sullivan to what appears to be a serious ankle injury, shipped three goals to a Joseph Ndo-inspired Shamrock Rovers and saw another three league points go the way of the 10 already deducted as their punishment for the club going into examinership.

The ageless Ndo’s strength and trickery was a highlight of the otherwise dull opening exchanges as he held off a myriad of Cork players to retain possession for his team and, merciful relief, prompt his admiring supporters to take at least a temporary break from baiting the City players with chants of “Don’t get injured, you won’t get paid.”

Ah, the Irish family of football at play, where being a stakeholder means holding a pointed stick.

A full 17 minutes had elapsed before the first serious threat on goal and it came on the double for Cork, as Healy’s free kick from outside the box drew a diving save from Robert Duggan, and then Dan Murray saw his strong header from the resultant corner safely handled by the Rovers ‘keeper.

At the other end, Michael Devine was equally well-positioned to hold a snapshot in a crowded box from Tadhg Purcell.

But, almost inevitably, it was Ndo who provided the first-half highlight nine minutes before the break, as he used his strength in the box to punish a hesitant Cork defence, first by getting control of the dropping ball with his back to goal and then turning to finish with a low shot to the corner from close range.

Just before the break, only a last-ditch Pat Sullivan block prevented Ndo from doubling Rovers’ lead after a brilliant one-two with Purcell had opened up the visitors’ rearguard.

Even the travelling Rebel Army, loyal to the end, would have struggled to suppress a smile at the Hoops fans’ most enterprising chant: “We’ve got Ndo and you’ve got no dough.”

But the Cork fans certainly weren’t laughing just before the hour mark when Michael Devine came outside his box to clear a routine long ball only to see Rovers’ Sean O’ Connor take advantage of the ‘keeper’s loose control and, after getting the better of covering full-back Darragh Ryan, stroke the ball into the empty net from an acute angle.

And things promptly got worse when Joe Gamble picked up two yellow cards in quick succession for a brace of robust tackles and, despite the protests of the Cork players, was duly sent off by referee Richie Winter. City were falling to pieces and, after Devine could only palm away Ndo’s cross from the right, Eoin Doyle was able to rifle home from the edge of the box.

Cork’s run of ill-fortune continued when, amidst evident concern from the medical staff and after prolonged treatment on the pitch, Sullivan had to be stretchered off and taken to hospital following an accidental collision with Ger O’ Brien.

For the remaining 15 minutes, the 10 men of Cork gamely battled on but by now they were simply engaged on the pitch, as the club is off it, in the business of damage limitation.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Duggan, Madden, O’ Brien, Maguire, Treacy, Sean O’ Connor, Danny O’ Connor, Flynn, Doyle (Leech 87), Ndo (Amond 77), Purcell (Creevy 84)

CORK CITY: Devine, Horgan, Murray, Sullivan (Kelly 75), Ryan, Lordan, Gamble, Healy, Kearney (O’ Connor 77), Dudfield (Murphy 63), Behan.

Referee: R Winter.