Cork City’s thunderous start blows Shamrock Rovers away

Cork City 2 Shamrock Rovers 0: A Steven Beattie goal inside the first 30 seconds set vibrant Cork City on their way to this fully deserved victory over a largely outfought and outclassed Shamrock Rovers, the win lifting John Caulfield’s team up to the third in the Premier Division.

A Karl Sheppard goal completed the scoring in what was an utterly dominant first-half performance by the home side, and while Pat Fenlon’s team came into the game more in the second period, City, now content to play on the counter, never seriously looked in danger of surrendering their two-goal advantage, much to the delight of the vast majority in a crowd of 2,731.

The Rebels went into the game missing the suspended Kenny Browne, with John Dunleavy deputising in the heart of the defence as Michael McSweeney came in at right back, while Karl Sheppard started in place of Stephen Dooley.