It was Hans Mpongo who stole the show, as Cork City cruised to victory, as they hosted Athlone Town on Friday Night.
Cork City 4
Athlone Town 1
Teenage sensation Cillian Murphy was away with the Republic of Ireland U17 squad for Friday’s fixture, Barry Robson opted to include Conor Drinan for his first start since opening night vs Treaty United, in place of the 16-year-old. This pushed Hans Mpongo further forward, and Seani Maguire deeper.
Oisin Hand came off injured last week at the Markets Field, in which Jonathan Kehir took his place, he got the nod to play centre-half. Brian Mcmanus was also uninvolved in the Athlone Town squad. Gradi Lomboto dropped to the bench after the Treaty United loss. Robert Lyons and Peter Grogan were included in the Starting XI.
The Leesiders got their first bite of the cherry early, with Hans Mpongo getting on the end of a through ball, on the left flank, in the 3rd minute. He successfully beat his man, before squaring the ball to Ruairí Keating, who proceeded to loop his shot over the bar.
City hit the front three minutes later, after Josh Fitzpatrick slipped in Ruairí Keating, who narrowly passed it across the box, for Hans Mpongo to tap in with ease.
The Rebel Army enjoyed a lot of joy down the right channel, consistently getting Ruairí Keating on the end of the balls, with Evan O’Connor having no answer to the attempts.
The sting was then taken out of the game and both teams lacked control.
Athlone made a peculiar decision to substitute Robert Lyons 32 minutes in. William Smith was the one to take his place.
Shortly after the home side made it two, as the ball was played into the box from a deep-lying Seani Maguire. Hans Mpongo received it with acres of space, and softly rolled it backwards for Conor Drinan to tuck away.
Athlone Town added to the score sheet, just as half-time approached, after Aaron Connolly’s whipped cross from deep, generated insane pace, and met the head of Adewale, who headed home impressively, leaving Conor Brann with no chance.
The Leesiders got out the gates quickly in the second-half, creating chances galore.
Josh Fitzpatrick looked like he was set to score as he was through, on the right channel, getting past Kyle O’Connor, but the ball got away from him, and was only able to poke at it with his left foot, which didn’t trouble the Athlone shot-stopper.
Sixty-five minutes in, City made it three for the night, as Aaron Connolly was unable to control Reece Webb’s fizzed pass, Greg Bolger capitalised on this and whipped in an early cross, it looked as if Keating had poked it in, but Bolger’s cross made it all the way past the Athlone goalkeeper, into the net.
This goal was followed quickly with two quality chances for Keating and Mpongo to double their tally, in which they definitely could’ve done better in their respective efforts.
City were close to making it four, in the 81st minute, as Matthew Murray was not able to direct his volley at the back-post goal-wards.
The game was to put to bed on the stroke of ninety minutes, Keating’s flick on was taken up by Hans Mpongo, who played AJ Bridge through. Bridge coolly slotted it past Stuart Trainor, this being the first goal of the season for the Norwich-loanee.
Man of the Match: You can never argue with a winger getting a goal an assist and that is what Hans Mpongo did. The dutch forward displayed immense direct nature, athleticism, and pace and power mixed together, tormenting Reece Webb for the full ninety.
Cork City (4-2-3-1): Conor Brann: Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons, Conor Drinan (Matthew Kiernan); Greg Bolger (AJ Bridge 66′), Darragh Crowley: Josh Fitzpatrick (Matthew Murray 77′), Seani Maguire (Niall O’Keeffe 88′), Hans Mpongo: Ruairí Keating.
Booked: Charlie Lyons, Greg Bolger, Rory Feely.
Athlone Town(4-1-4-1): Andrew Stuart Trainor: Reece Webb, Jonathan Kehir, Evan O’Connor, Kyle O’Connor (James Crawford 73′); Aaron Moloney: Patrick Ferry, Aaron Connolly, Robert Lyons (William Smyth 32′), Aderinsola Adewale (Gradi Lomboto 63′); Peter Grogan (Alex Sheerin 73′).
Booked: Kyle O’Connor, Aaron Moloney, Jonathan Kehir.
Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin)
Attendance: 2,306