O'Flynn ends deadlock

SETANTA CUP Cork City 2 Cliftonville 0: CORK CITY went joint top of Group One with a hard-fought win at Turner's Cross last night. The visitors held out for a long time, but with just over a quarter of an hour remaining John O'Flynn, followed soon by Dave Mooney, grabbed a deserved three points.

Despite the first-half dominance of the home side, the hero was arguably Cliftonville goalkeeper John Connolly.

A minute hadn't elapsed before he was stopping a close-range Dave Mooney volley. He then had to contend with George O'Callaghan's 17th-minute volley, diving alertly to his left.

The Belfast visitors couldn't deal with the pace and fluidity of the Cork attack. Liam Kearney was particularly keen to pop up wherever took his fancy. John O'Flynn, Danny Murphy, O'Flynn again and Mooney all missed chances in the first 15 minutes.

The best chance of the half came in the 35th minute when Mooney's glancing header hit the far upright.

Things changed a little when the sides re-emerged. The key moment was Cork centre back Dave Mulcahy's injury, which forced a reshuffle. Colin Healy was withdrawn to defence behind an orthodox, four-man midfield.

Cork made the breakthrough in the 72nd minute when O'Flynn pounced on Connolly's save from a Horgan shot.

The 76th minute saw a wonderful piece of Mooney skill allow the striker to turn his marker, but Connolly was down sharp to deny him. He was visibly frustrated, but the resultant corner found him and this time he made no mistake, heading it to the far corner.

CORK CITY: M Devine; N Horgan, D Mulcahy, C Lordan, D Murphy; G O'Callaghan, C Healy, J Gamble (capt), L Kearney; J O'Flynn, D Mooney. Subs: P Sullivan for Mulcahy (51 mins), A O'Connor for O'Flynn (83), Darren Murphy for O'Callaghan (86). Not used: D Ryan, C O'Brien, M McNulty, D Behan.

CLIFTONVILLE: J Connolly; A Smyth, D O'Hara, D McAlinden, R Scannell; K O'Connor, B Johnston, R Catney, G McMullan; M Holland, C Scannell (capt). Subs: L Fleming for O'Connor, S Campbell for M Holland (both 77 mins). Not used: P McKane, J Martin, B Holland, S O'Neill, C Boyd.

Referee: D Hanney.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times