Cork City hold Dundalk in thriller

Cork City 2 Dundalk 2: Cork City displayed all their battling qualities as they came from two goals behind to share the points with champions Dundalk in an enthralling game at Turner’s Cross last night.

In a dress rehearsal for next month’s FAI Cup final, the home side looked to be heading for a heavy defeat as Dundalk raced into a two-goal lead inside the opening 25 minutes but John Caulfield’s side showed that Dundalk will not have it all their own way in the Aviva showpiece as the Louth side look to secure a league and cup double.

When the fixtures were released earlier this year, both sets of fans had this one pencilled in as a potential championship decider, and Dundalk had a sizeable travelling contingent behind them last night after a lot of supporters had booked the day off work months ago envisaging an exciting title climax.

It hasn’t worked out that way as Stephen Kenny’s magnificent side have been head and shoulders above any side in the country all season but both sets of fans were treated to a fantastic game last night.

Kenny left out midfielder Stephen O’Donnell, who was a booking away from missing the cup final but top scorer Richie Towell was fit to start after a bout of pleurisy kept him out of last week’s draw with Galway United.

With second place still not secured, Caulfield surprisingly made four changes to the side that defeated St Pat’s at Richmond Park on Monday night with Alan Bennett, Darren Dennehy, Garry Buckley and Danny Morrissey all left out of the matchday squad.

The champions dominated from the first whistle and were in front within 10 minutes when Daryl Horgan’s floated free-kick from 40 yards evaded everyone and David McMillan stole in at the back post to finish past Mark McNulty.

Towell, a hot favourite for player of the year at the awards ceremony on November 20, made the home side pay again in the 25th minute. Ronan Finn was allowed carry the ball forward before flicking it into the path of Towell, who took a touch before rifling an unstoppable right footed shot which flew into the top corner of McNulty’s net.

It looked like Kenny’s side could run riot as they were first to every ball but, remarkably, the teams went in level at the break as City dug deep.

With their first meaningful attack of the game, Karl Sheppard got to the byline before crossing for Mark O’Sullivan to finish well in the 29th minute.

Sheppard had the sides level eight minutes later when he headed home Ross Gaynor’s corner kick at the back post.

In between, McNulty made a fantastic stop to keep out John Mountney’s curling effort in a superb first half.

City upped the pace in the second half and didn’t afford the Lillywhites the same amount of time on the ball and Liam Miller went close early on when he robbed McMillan before shooting narrowly over from 20 yards.

Both sides could have won it late on but Towell shot inches wide before Rogers made a great stop to deny O’Sullivan right at the death.

So next stop Lansdowne Road on November 8, which looks set to be another cracker between the top two.

CORK CITY:

McNulty; McSweeney, Murray, Dunleavy, Gaynor; Kearney (B Dennehy 54),Beattie(O’Flynn 80), O’Connor, Miller, Sheppard; O’Sullivan.

DUNDALK:

Rogers; Gannon, Boyle, Gartland, Massey; Mountney (Maguire 82), Shields(Poynton 66), Finn, Towell, Horgan; McMillan (Kilduff 70).

Referee:

P Tuite (Dublin).