Unbeaten Cork City tame Mervue and leapfrog Shelbourne to summit
The three points moved Cork ahead of Shelbourne, who had a free weekend, on goal difference.
Tommy Dunne’s unbeaten side struck the front as early as the seventh minute when first top scorer Graham Cummins had a header blocked on the line, but he reacted quickly to belt home the rebound from eight yards.
Cork, the only unbeaten club in the country after 12 matches, doubled their lead as Shane Duggan set up Davin O’Neill on 36 minutes, his low shot bobbling over the dive of Mervue goalkeeper Eoin Martin.
Then on 42 minutes, a perfect cross from City full back Danny Murphy found the unmarked Gearóid Morrissey, the midfielder finishing from six yards. Galway boss Johnny Glynn, the former City striker, was sent to the stand in the last minute for showing dissent on the touchline.
McNulty; Murphy D Spillane, Kavanagh, Horgan; O’Neill, Duggan, O’Halloran, Morrissey; Cummins, Sullivan.
Subs: Escudè Candau for Sullivan (61),J Murphy for Cummins (80), Mulcahy for Duggan (83).
Martin; Crehan, Conneely, Casserly, Cunningham; Varley, King; Ludden, Gaffney, Goldbey; Mountney.
Subs; O’Brien for Ludden (55),Lee for Goldbey (77),McEntee for Varley (87).
Referee: S Templeman (Kerry).
Waterford United 0Monaghan United 1
THERE was an air of depression at the RSC last night as Waterford United’s promotion hopes took another severe dent as they lost to Monaghan for the second time this season.
Paul Murphy that went close to giving the home side the lead in the second minute when he raced onto a through ball from Michael Coady but he fired wide from a good position.
Monaghan struck for the lone goal on 25 minutes. Ryan Brennan’s right-wing delivery from the left wasn’t clear by the Blues defence and when the ball broke to Sean Brennan, he drilled a low right-footed shot to the right hand corner of the net.
Murphy shaved the Monaghan United crossbar with a cracking 30-yard free kick shortly afterwards but the game petered out as Monaghan moved eight points clear of the Blues.
Burns; Long (Carey [88), Browne, Murray, Coady; Keane, Sinnott, Breen, Wilson (Dempsey [72); Kiely, Murphy.
: Sava; Collins, Grimes, A. Byrne, P. Byrne, Tierney, Reilly (Fitzgerald [66), R. Brennan, O’Brien, S. Brennan, Marks (Foley [53)
Referee: Ciaran Fitzgerald (Galway)
Longford Town 2Wexford Youths 1
IT TOOK them six games and just over two seasons but Longford Town finally beat Wexford Youths at Flancare Park.
Austin Skelly opened the scoring for the Town in the 24th minute, heading home Keith Gillespie’s free. Five minutes after the break Town doubled their advantage as Skelly slipped the ball to Cathal Brady and the winger found the net from a very tight angle. In the 73nd minute Wexford were handed a lifeline when Town defender Des Hope brought down Darragh Walshe. Furlong converted the penalty but Longford held out.
: Hunt, Hyland, Hope, Collins, Cronin, Brady, Gillespie, Salmon, Morley (A Roche ht), Cowan (Walsh 66), Skelly.
: Holden, Broaders, Kehoe, Keogh, Nolan, Malone (Grincell 87), Ryan, Wall, Walshe, Yelverton (Furlong ht), Mullen (Rowe ht).
Referee: J McKell (Tipperary).
Finn Harps 1 Athlone Town 0
FINN HARPS finally recorded their first league win of the season at the 12th attempt as they overcame Athlone Town at Finn Park last night.
Kevin McHugh capitalised on some poor defending and a slip by goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann to pounce from close range to bag what turned out to be the winner on 19 minutes.
Garbhan Friel missed a couple of chances for Harps and Kevin McHugh also had a penalty appeal turned down and a shot saved as they searched for a second but the win moves them off the bottom of the table.
: Gallagher; McLaughlin, Cowan, Mailey, Harkin; Brolly, McAlwee, Bonner, Forker; Friel, McHugh. Sub: Coll for Brolly (78 mins)
: Schlingermann; Scullion, Danagher, Barrett, Carr; Young; Gardener, Relihan, Williamson, Horan; Monaghan. Subs: Stack for Horan (18 mins), Tier for Gardener (62 mins), Keane for Young (80 mins).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
Salthill Devon 0Limerick FC 1
LIMERICK FC came away from Drom in Galway with all three points thanks to a penalty on the hour mark.
Sean O’Connor was the hero for the visitors as he slotted home the spot-kick after a handball in the box.
Salthill Devon were unable to secure an equaliser as Limerick kept the pressure on Cork City at the top with a priceless away win.
: Forde; Whelan, O’Leidhinn, Greaney, Winters; Rupa, McConnell (Dolan, 64), Horgan, Conlon; Straut, Nkololo (Molloy, 76).
Ryan; Frost, O’Callaghan, Purcell, Tracey; Coughlan, Judge, O’Connor, O’Leary, Quinn (McGann, 82); Hynes.
