City pair doubtful for Setanta tie
Both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals of the competition, but Cork boss Alan Mathews is still focused on winning the group.
“We’re in the semi final, but we want to win the game to give ourselves a chance of having home advantage in the semi final,” said Mathews.
Tonight’s game comes just two days after Cork’s frustrating 1-1 FAI Cup quarter-final draw with Derry City at Turner’s Cross. Cork led through Darren Murphy’s first half goal, only to concede a late penalty, which was cooly dispatched by Sammy Morrow.
“It is hard to take, we had the chances to win the game. but it was a definite penalty,” conceded Mathews. “We just needed to keep our concentration. We didn’t do it and we’ve been punished again.
“For all the possession we had, we didn’t do enough to work their keeper. We could have gone in a couple of goals of up at half-time. We’ve been picked again, for the third time this season Derry have got away from here with a draw.”
City dominated this cracking FAI cup quarter-final. On 15 minutes Joe Gamble fed Darren Murphy, who exchanged passes neatly with Liam Kearney before firing across goal, with Doherty scrambling down to his right to save. On 26 minutes Derry failed to clear a Cork corner and Sean Kelly’s close range shot was blocked by the Derry defence.
City deservedly took the lead with a sensational solo goal from Darren Murphy nine minutes before the break. The Cork midfielder picked the ball up from Gamble, then cut straight through the Derry defence, rounded Steven Gray before blasting low past Doherty to send the Leeside faithful into raptures. It was the former Cobh players’s second goal for the club.
Cork continued to dictate in the second half. On 53 minutes Behan robbed Kevin Deery, before rolling the ball to Kearney, who fizzed a shot at Doherty, who palmed it to safety.
With six minutes to go City were hit with a hammer blow. Ruaidhri Higgins’ played a hopeful ball into the box towards Mark Farren, and Devine’s clumsy challenge resulted in the penalty. Substitute Morrow blasted into the top left hand corner.
Cork upped the tempo immediately. With two minutes to go, Healy had only the keeper to beat, only to fire straight at Doherty. From the resulting corner, Healy’s free header from five yards fell straight to the keeper. The sides will meet again on Tuesday, September 30, at the Brandywell.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Danny Murphy, Kelly, Murray (capt); Darren Murphy, Gamble, Healy, Ryan (Dudfield 82), Behan, Kearney.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Hargan (Morrow 60), Delaney, Gray, McCallion; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery (Molloy 75), Stewart (McHugh 70); Farren, McGinn.
Referee: R Winter.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
