Awesome City back in the title chase

THERE were 3,205 in Turner’s Cross last night and, barring only the small travelling band of shell-shocked Shels supporters, they should all be back asking for more of the same please, after Cork City fashioned a devastating four-star comeback to leave the league leaders’ reputation as near invincibles in tatters.

In real terms, of course, this defeat was more of a dent than a mortal blow to Shelbourne’s title ambitions, since Alan Mathews’ team still retain a healthy seven point lead at the top of the First Division.

But for Cork the significance of the final scoreline was huge: a confidence-boosting rout which, even if the Dubliners aren’t to be caught over the long haul, surely copperfastens City’s credentials as automatic promotion candidates in their own right.

In fairness to Shels, they more than played their part in a splendid night’s entertainment before the roof caved in on them. Indeed, the game was only five minutes old when the division’s leading scorer Philly Hughes angled a through ball which opened up the Cork rearguard and sent skipper David Cassidy in to beat Mark McNulty with a well-placed finish.

And Cork suffered another blow just a few minutes later when Stephen Mulcahy was stretchered off after coming off worst in a full-blooded 50-50 challenge.

City now faced one of the toughest challenges in the league: trying to find a goal against a side which had kept nine clean sheets and conceded only three in their previous 12 games. Few would have predicted at that stage that they would go on to find four.

In the 19th minute City spurned a great chance to go level when, after Dean Delany had spilled Graham Cummins’ powerful drive, Daryl Horgan reacted quickly to the rebound but could only find the side-netting with his poor effort.

Cork were certainty taking the game to Shels but first a fine Philly Hughes effort from outside the box and then a gilt-edged Kevin Dawson chance from much closer in, served notice that, while City had no option but to chase the game, they had to be acutely conscious of being punished at the back by a Shels side who always looked threatening in the final third.

But, Cork got back on terms just past the half-hour mark, when Davin O’ Neill turned inside the box and chipped an inviting ball to the far post where City’s leading scorer Graham Cummins – now drawing level on 12 league goals with Philly Hughes — did exceptionally well to get across his marker and head in off the post.

Tails up, City were now playing some fast and fluent stuff, with Damien Duff-lookalike Daryl Horgan impressing on the left flank and only the final ball letting the Rebels down in some promising positions. And their pressure was rewarded, but in the most surprisingly straightforward way, two minutes before the break, when Davin O’ Neill rose highest in the box to head a home a Gearóid Morrissey corner and send City in at the break with a two-one lead.

Playing into the raucous Shed end, City promptly picked up in the second-half where they’d left off in the first. Twice in succession, Delany had to be at his best to deny Cummins as a pulsating game moved into the final half-hour with the home side still firmly in the ascendant.

Alan Mathews was just about to empty his bench in a bid to stem the tide, when City made it three in the 76th minute, Davin O’ Neill just beating Delaney to the ball to slot home a low Cummins cross from close range.

And with the Shels defence now hoisting the white flag, man of the match Daryl Horgan crowned a terrific night’s work, both individually and collectively, with the decisive touch inside the box to claim Cork’s fourth.

The league season is now officially two-thirds of the way through, with 10 games left to play, the final one another meeting between these two at Tolka Park on October 29. Shelbourne’s reaction to this heavy setback will be interesting but, right now, few would bet against both of these clubs back in the top-flight next season. And the Premier Division would be blessed to have them.

Next up is the EA Sports League Cup semi-final against Limerick on Monday.

CORK CITY: McNulty, Mulcahy (Turner 12), Kavanagh, Spillane, Murphy, Horgan (Escude-Candau 86), Duggan, O’ Halloran, Morrissey (Sullivan 84), O’ Neill, Cummins

SHELBOURNE: Delany, Matthews, Fitzgerald, Ryan (Paisley 70), Boyle, James, Dawson (Birmingham 77), Cassidy, Byrne, B McGill (Mulhall 61), Hughes

Referee: P Sutton.