Cork City 1
Shelbourne 1
The points were shared on Friday Night between Cork City and Shelbourne at The Cross courtesy of Ali Coote’s stunner of a strike from outside of the box. The game itself is not what is grabbing the headlines, but rather what happened off the pitch.
A video is circulating online which was posted by Dan Casey in which Shelbourne manager Damien Duff can be heard shouting and roaring at his players. Shelbourne started very slow in the first half and didn’t have a proper sniff at goal. Duff was heard mentioning ‘pre-season’ in his dressing down of his squad. Duff ended making 3 changes at the interval to try to capture control of the game.
As for the game, The scoring was opened in the 57th minute, Milan Mbeng picked the ball up just inside of the Shels half, he marched down the right flank before whipping a cross into the backpost where Seani Maguire leaps over Mark Coyle to put the Rebel Army ahead of their rivals of old.
The lead would only last a mere 14 mins as Shels struck back. 71 minutes in Mipo Odubeko slides the ball across the City 18 yard line, Coyle receives it and gives it first time to Ali Coote, he dribbles back towards his own goal while going back on his original thought losing Evan McLaughlin in the process he gets his strike off and there was nothing Troost could do to prevent it.
It was a first start for fan favourite Seani Maguire .This was his first start in about 3 months after injury. His last game in the Starting XI was in a 2-1 loss to Waterford in the RSC on the 3rd of March. This was the only change to the City lineup as Rio Shipston made way for the talisman.
It was an unchanged Starting XI for Shels from their previous 3-2 win over Sligo Rovers courtesy of a John Martin hat-trick. Paddy Barrett made his first appearance in the Shelbourne matchday squad since injury. He came on as one of the 3 half-time changes made by Duff.
The first major event occured in the 13th minute when Seani Maguire has the ball in the Shelbourne box. Ellis Chapman goes through the back of him but referee Marc Lynch waves play on to the Shed’s discontent in which they had a very good view of the incident.
City got their first big chance in the 27th minute when Ellis Chapman and Josh Fitzpatrick’s tussle for the ball landed to Evan McLaughlin on the left hand side. McLaughlin strook the ball first time from outside of the box with his left foot. The shot was bending to the top left-hand corner but Lorcan Healy got a mere touch on the ball directing it onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
Their was another appeal for a penalty in the 37th minute when Mark Coyle shoves Daniels to ground as last man but it seems to be a good physical shoulder and the ref again decides against giving the Leesiders the spot kick.
Shelbourne’s only chance came on the stroke of half-time after John Martin pick pocketed Sean Murray on the left flank. He crossed the ball into Ellis Chapman who missed his header, this was a blessing in disguise as the ball fell to John O’Sullivan who hit his volley goalwards. It was a clean strike which would’ve warranted a good save by Troost but Lyons dealt with it himself clearing it with his head while the ball was travelling at some speed.
It was total domination from City in the first 45 which warranted Duff to hook Wood, O’Sullivan and Wilson. They were replaced with Norris, Odubeko and Barrett.
The Second half started with City seeming asleep and Shels seeming to have their mojo back. They were applying pressure City until they got their goal. City were then in control until another goal against the run of play only this time for Shelbourne.
Shels looked like they were going to win it late on and the story of City’s season but City were able to ride the wave of Shels’ draw and close the game out for a draw.
Overall a positive way to enter the mid-season break for Nash’s side after another impressive performance against the champions. For Shelbourne on the other hand their will need to have a lot of preparation needed to resurrect any hope of a successful league campaign and also their highly anticipated Champions League games.
My MOTM: Evan McLaughlin
Cork City: Tein Troost, Milan Mbeng(A), Freddie Anderson, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley, Cathal O’Sullivan(Alex Nolan 89′), Sean Murray(Rio Shipston 74′), Evan McLaughlin, Josh Fitzpatrick(Malik Dijksteel 74′), Djenario Daniels, Sean Maguire(G)(Greg Bolger 66′).
Shelbourne: Lorcan Healy, John O’Sullivan(James Norris 46′), Mark Coyle(A), Kameron Ledwidge(Y), Tyreke Wilson(Paddy Barrett 46′(Y)), Evan Caffrey, Ellis Chapman(Ali Coote 65′(G)), JJ Lunney, Kerr McInroy, John Martin(Y)(Daniel Kelly 82′), Harry Wood(Mipo Odubeko 46′).
Referee: Marc Lynch
Credit to Sportsfile for the picture