Dunne and fans sick of Cork City’s Groundhog Nights

“Everybody’s sick of it,” said Tommy Dunne after Cork City’s last gasp semi-final exit to Shamrock Rovers in the Setanta Cup semi-final on Monday night.

The manager was summing up the gloomy mood of a club which has grown accustomed to Groundhog Nights this season, as Cork City have repeatedly surrendered late goals in the league and now given up another last gasper, this time at the expense of a place in a cup final.

City were just seconds away from an aggregate 3-2 victory over Shamrock Rovers when a free kick allowed former Rebel Billy Dennehy to find the net off the inside of the post, sending the Hoops through to the final against Drogheda United with what was effectively the last kick of the game.