Hans Mpongo the star as Cork City put Athlone Town to sword at Turner's Cross
CITY SLICKERS: Conor Drinan of Cork City, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with teammate Hans Mpongo. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Six wins from seven. Three wins on the trot. Five points clear at the summit.
Cork City’s plans of a Premier Division return are already looking like they’ll take shape, as 2,306 watched on as City hit Athlone Town for four at Turner’s Cross on Friday.
Barry Robson was forced to make one change to the team that defeated UCD, as Cillian Murphy’s Ireland U17 duties ensured Conor Drinan regained his place in the starting team.Â
He was superb at left-wing back, even netting the second City goal in the 36th minute, but Hans Mpongo was the star of the show up front with a goal and two assists.
His finish had been the first – after six minutes – but Athlone would get one back just before half-time, a powerful header from Derinsola Adewale leaving it 2-1.
But Greg Bolger put the hosts out of sight with 65 minutes elapsed.
Reece Webb passed to Aaron Connolly but he was turned over by Bolger, who immediately looked to cross for Keating. City’s no. 9 tried to give it the slightest of touches. He couldn’t reach it, but Bolger’s initial ball made its way in.
City found chances harder to come by in the closing stages, but they found room for one more strike as Mpongo slipped substitute AJ Bridge through and he drove home his first goal for the club.
Cork City had done enough in the first half, even if it was a touch scrappy.
They raced into an early lead when Keating’s shot attempt was nudged over the line by Mpongo after six minutes. City were fortunate not to lose their lead when Patrick Ferry’s pass for Peter Grogan escaped the control of Fiacre Kelleher, though Grogan couldn’t convert.
City’s second goal was better constructed than the first. Josh Fitzpatrick carried it down the flank, then fed Seani Maguire centrally. His long ball snuck in behind the Town defence for Mpongo to reach, cut back and square for Conor Drinan.
Drinan made no mistake, curling it into the far corner.
That same four man passage – in the very same order – almost added a third three minutes later, but Drinan’s shot was closed down.
Somewhat out of the blue – The hosts will have certainly felt caught on the hop – even if Athlone had looked threatening on the counter.
Aaron Connolly launched in a cross way out on the flank, which Adewale leapt up to head home with power in the 44th minute, giving the visitors a sniff against the league leaders ahead of the second half.
On the resumption, City immediately got to scoring again, two goals in two minutes that were both disallowed by referee Oliver Moran. The first one came after Darragh Crowley teed up Maguire and though his attempt was saved, Keating poked home the rebound but was deemed to have been offside.
A minute later, Maguire’s beautifully threaded pass sent Fitzpatrick tearing down the flank, but Athlone closed the angle and City won a corner, which Drinan launched in and Seani converted, but not before the whistle went for a free-kick against City.
The disallowed goals wouldn’t be costly; another two would follow and there was no doubt they would stand.
Brann; Feely, Lyons, Kelleher; Fitzpatrick (Murray 77); Bolger (Bridge 66), Crowley, Drinan (Kiernan 88); Maguire (O’Keeffe 88); Mpongo, Keating.
Trainor; Webb, Kehir, E O’Connor, K O’Connor (Crawford 73); Moloney, Connolly; Ferry, Lyons (Smith 31), Adewale (Lomboto 63 inj); Grogan (Sheerin 73).
O Moran (Dublin)
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