Cork stretch unbeaten run despite Shels siege

Shelbourne 1 Cork City Foras Co-Op 1

They were faint echoes of past glories at Tolka Park, with two of the traditional big guns of the domestic game meeting for the first time in the more modest confines of the First Division. Nostalgia was heightened by the presence of ex-Shels Greg O’Halloran and Dave Rogers in the Cork line-up.

But that was then and this is now and, having survived their respective traumas since then, both clubs are now about the business of claiming a future back in the top-flight.

After a poignant minute’s silence to remember Shels’ U-15 player Toyosi Shittabey, referee Derek Tomney’s whistle got proceedings underway in front of a crowd numbering 1,004.

But the faithful were rewarded with a lively opening, Cork the quickest out of the blocks when O’Halloran’s clever back-heel flick gave Davin O’Neill a sight of goal inside the box only for the leggy winger’s half-volley to be aimed straight at goalkeeper Dean Delaney.

In the 66th minute Mark Hughes tried his luck from distance, drawing a diving save from Mark McNulty, the Cork keeper’s first meaningful contribution of the second half.

Two loud Shels penalty appeals in quick succession — one for handball, the second for a tackle — were waved away as the visitors began to live dangerously at the back but, with a lightning breakout, it was Cork who were suddenly celebrating at the other end in the 75th minute when, after Shane Duggan’s close-range effort was blocked by Delaney, Cummins was on hand to blast home the rebound.

But the visitors could only keep their lead for five minutes, Shelbourne pressure finally paying off when, after McNulty spilled Sean Byrne’s powerful drive, his fellow sub Dinny Corcoran was able to fire the loose ball home.

SHELBOURNE: Delaney, Quigley (Byrne 36), Whelan, Ryan, Scully, Foley, Shiels, McGill (Corcoran 55), Cassidy, Hughes, Leech (Gorman 69)

CORK CITY FORAS CO-OP: McNulty, Turner, Mulcahy, Rogers, Hojan, O’Neill, Cillian Lordan, O’Halloran, Duggan, Cathal Lordan, Cummins

Referee: Derek Tomney.