Morrissey caps City comeback
By Brendan Furlong
GEAROID MORRISSEY struck a late winner as Cork City came from behind at Ferrycarrig Park last night.
Despite their dominance City had to wait until the 34th minute for their first clear chance but Graham Cummins had a shot cleared to safety, while two minutes later Cummins powered a header from a Morrissey cross just outside the post.
City forced a corner within 30 seconds of the restart with Vinny Sullivan getting a head to Morrissey’s kick forcing a superb save from keeper Packie Holden.
A minute later Wexford took the lead against the run of play when Craig Wall got a boot to a Dean Broaders cross with keeper McNulty helping it on its way to the net.
The visitors equalised after 65 minutes when Cummins knocked down a high ball for Sullivan to drill home a low shot to the net.
Cork took the points on 81 minutes when Sullivan laid off to Morrissey and his low shot found the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
WEXFORD YOUTHS: Holden, Kehoe, Woulfe (Furlong 79), Keogh, Broaders, Malone, Ryan, Wall, Walshe (Grincell 45), Yelverton, Mullen (Nolan 63).
CORK CITY: McNulty, Spillane, Murphy, Horgan, O’Halloran, Morrissey (Escade-Candau 89), O’Neill, Duggan, Cummins, Sullivan, Kavanagh.
Referee: Phil Caschara (Dublin).
A 72nd-MINUTE Conan Byrne goal helped Shelbourne maintain poll position after a nervy victory over an impressive Longford Town at Tolka Park.
Shels looked bright in the early exchanges, particularly down their right flank, with Byrne spurning a glorious chance in the third minute as he dragged his effort wide.
Longford began to gradually assert themselves with Don Cowan’s pace on the counter-attack a constant threat and he should have done better in the 25th minute when shooting too close to Dean Delany.
Within a minute, the visitors were unlucky not to break the deadlock as Mark Salmon saw his attempt from Keith Gillespie’s pass rebound off the post to safety.
Cowan went close within a minute of the restart with substitute Lee Roche missing a gilt-edged chance 20 minutes from time which proved costly as two minutes later Cassidy found Byrne for a simple tap-in.
SHELBOURNE: Delany; Matthews, Boyle, Ryan, Fitzgerald; Byrne, McGill (Dawson, 65), Cassidy, Clancy (Mulhall, 59); Hughes (Scully, 83), Bermingham.
LONGFORD TOWN: Hunt; Hyland, Hope, Collins, Cronin; Brady (Walsh, 77), Gillespie, Salmon, Morley (A Roche, 83); Cowan, Skelly (L Roche, 68).
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
DEFENDER Pat Purcell notched his second goal in seven days as the Shannonsiders recorded their fourth win in five outings at Jackman Park.
The Lims captain nodded home a Shane Tracy corner in the 65th minute to keep the home side in the hunt for promotion.
Tracy went close for the hosts in the third minute with a curling free-kick but Harps keeper Ciaran Gallagher pulled off a brilliant save.
Gallagher denied Tracy again in the 33rd minute and also thwarted Paudie Quinn as Pat Scully’s side pressed for an opener in scrappy opening half.
Harps midfielder Kevin McHugh almost salvaged a point late on but he blasted his effort at Barry Ryan after being left in a one-on-one position with the keeper.
LIMERICK FC: Ryan, Tracey, Frost, Purcell, O’Callaghan, Tracy, Judge, O’Leary, Quinn (McGann 82) Hynes, O’Connor (Coughlan 62)
FINN HARPS: Gallagher, Cowen, McLoughlin, Harkin (Friel 66) Bonner, McHugh, Brolly, Connaghan (Merrit 74) McElee, Coll, Malley.
Referee: J Grimes (Dublin).
THIS Galway derby brought former Galway United strikers Paul McGee and Johnny Glynn into managerial opposition but it was a goalkeeper who stole the show at Fahy’s Field.
Salthill Devon’s Ronan Forde saved a penalty in either half to ensure the game ended in stalemate.
Mervue should have hit the front after 32 minutes when Jason Molloy was fouled in the box but his penalty was deflected onto the bar by a superb save from Forde.
Neither side had managed to get on top but Mervue were given another glorious chance to break the deadlock after 76 minutes when Dan Cunningham was taken down.
He too took on the responsibility for the spot-kick but Forde again managed to save.
Substitute Dave Goldbey almost snatched it at the death for Mervue but was unable to convert a good chance.
MERVUE UNITED: Ford; Casserly, Conneely, Cunningham, Curran; King, Ludden (Goldbey 77),Tierney (Mountney 77), Varley; Gaffney, Molloy.
SALTHILL DEVON: Forde; Quinlan, O Leidhinn, McConnell, Whelan; Nkololo, Greaney, Conlon (Dunne 65), Browne (Horgan 45); Straut, Collins (Dolan 78).
Referee: D Coombes.
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