Shels send City packing

AIRTRICITY PREMIER DIVISION:

Murtagh struck for the vital lead ten minutes into the second half, with substitute Darren Tinnelly adding a late second as John McDonnell’s side edged to within a point of Bohemians at the foot of the table.

Kalen Spillane got a goal back for Cork on 88 minutes as Tommy Dunne’s side left Drumcondra livid as they felt they had two good calls for penalties denied them while goalkeeping coach Anthony Fennelly was sent from the dugout.

Hampered by a list of injuries and two suspensions, Dunne was without seven players, five of whom may be considered starters, resulting in John Kavanagh being promoted up from the under-19 team for his league debut at right-back.

And buoyed by their shock win over champions Sligo Rovers last week, Cork started well, but blew a gilt-edged chance to take the lead after a mere 26 seconds.

Daryl Kavanagh threaded ball beyond the square Shels defence to put Ciaran Kilduff through one-one-one. The big striker did much right, skipping round Lee Murphy. The weak shot however hadn’t enough pace on it to reach the net as Shels’ left-back Pat Flynn got back to clear off the line.

Shels were struggling to get into the game and it was Cork who continued to make the chances.

A fine ball from Daryl Kavanagh gave Kilduff a run on goal on 26 minutes but there was insufficient power in the shot.

Five minutes before the break, Shels defender Ian Ryan did very well to take the ball off the toe of Daryl Kavanagh as he looked to be through onto an Ian Turner ball over the top.

Cork then almost scored from their first corner of the game in first half injury time when Murphy had to backtrack to tip over the bar from a Gary Buckley header.

It was Shels who almost took the lead three minutes into the second half.

Stephen Hurley met a corner from Sean Brennan, but his header was deflected out for another one.

But they survived only until the 55th minute. Negligent defending saw Ryan get on the end of a Brennan free kick to head the ball back across goal for the unmarked Murtagh to shoot home.

Cork thought they had a penalty on 76 minutes when referee Derek Tomney pointed to the spot after Graham Gartland tackled Daryl Kavanagh in the box. But linesman Mark Gavin flagged to signal a free out.

Another shout for a Cork spot kick was waved away four minutes later when Tinnelly appeared to trip Kavanagh inside the area.

A minute later, Tinnelly drilled home Shels’ second goal after a cross from Adam Hanlon.

Central defender Spillane provided a grandstand finish when heading home a Daryl Horgan corner on 88 minutes.

SHELBOURNE: Murphy; Shortall, Ryan, Gartland, Flynn; Brennan, Hurley, Cronin, Doyle (Tinnelly, 78); Hanlon (Mooney, 90+4), Murtagh (Kelly, 85).

CORK CITY: McNulty; J. Kavanagh, Buckley, Spillane, N. Horgan; Turner (Rundle, 66), Dunleavy, Duggan, D. Horgan; D. Kavanagh (Behan, 90), Kilduff.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)