Cork City 0
Shamrock Rovers 0
Paul Dollery reports from Turner’s Cross
CORK CITY DROPPED points at home for the first time this season by playing out a goalless draw with Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross tonight.
In doing so, City fell further behind leaders Dundalk, who now have a four-point cushion at the summit of the Premier Division after they came from behind to get the better of St Patrick’s Athletic.
The Rovers hero in front of a crowd of 3,749 on Leeside was 16-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu, who has yet to concede a goal since being promoted to the Hoops’ starting line-up.
In his fourth consecutive league appearance, the young Dubliner — who has reportedly attracted interest from Liverpool — made a superb second-half save to keep out a Kieran Sadlier penalty.
Despite dominating possession, it was a frustrating night for City, who now turn their attentions to the first leg of their Champions League first round qualifier against Polish champions Legia Warsaw here on Tuesday.
A major concern for City ahead of that clash will be the fitness of goalkeeper Mark McNulty, who had to be substituted late in tonight’s game after picking up an ankle injury.
City and Rovers came into this fixture on the back of contrasting fortunes last weekend. The hosts released their grip on top spot by losing away to title rivals Dundalk, while Rovers picked up their third consecutive league win by overcoming Derry City in Tallaght.
City manager John Caulfield made three changes to his side, one of which was enforced. After sustaining an injury against Dundalk seven days ago, Colm Horgan was replaced at right-back by Conor McCarthy. Jimmy Keohane and Barry McNamee dropped down to the bench, with Garry Buckley and Karl Sheppard getting the nod instead.
In the two changes to the Rovers team, boss Stephen Bradley opted for Ethan Boyle and former City midfielder Greg Bolger ahead of Dave McAllister and Joel Coustrain.
Each side also named a returning veteran international among their substitutes. Ex-Ireland defender Damien Delaney, who left City for the UK in 2000, is back with his hometown club after a six-year spell with Crystal Palace, while nine-cap Northern Ireland goalkeeper Alan Mannus re-joined Rovers recently having departed for St Johnstone in 2011.
While City were in control from the outset, chances were initially scarce for the champions. They had a couple of penalty claims — first when Shane Griffin went down under a challenge from Ethan Boyle, and later when there was a suggestion that the ball struck the arm of Joey O’Brien — but referee Rob Hennessy was convinced by neither.
With 20 minutes on the clock, the home side eventually began to threaten the Rovers goal. City’s best chances in their search for a breakthrough fell to Garry Buckley and Graham Cummins. When the pair played a well-worked one-two, Buckley was unable to hit the target with his left-footed effort. Cummins later called Bazunu into action when he got his head to a cross from Karl Sheppard.
Rovers’ first shot on goal came in the 37th minute, but Greg Bolger’s long-range effort sailed over the crossbar as he aimed to upset the home support in his first appearance at Turner’s Cross since swapping Cork for Tallaght last winter.
Cummins and Buckley both went close again shortly after the restart, before City were handed a golden opportunity to go in front on the hour mark. When Sheppard was bundled over in the box by O’Brien, Rob Hennessy immediately pointed to the spot.
Sadlier, who had boasted a 100% record from penalty kicks this season, struck his effort low and hard towards the corner to his left, but Bazunu was at full stretch to make an outstanding stop.
Bazunu had a nervy moment shortly afterwards when he spilled a cross from Griffin, but the youngster came to the rescue again just minutes later when he pushed Sheppard’s header onto the post.
As City continued to push for an opener, they were restricted mostly to hopeful long-range efforts by a resolute Rovers rearguard. The visitors almost nicked an unlikely win with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining when McNulty was caught out of goal and went over on his ankle, but Dan Carr’s effort was stopped on the line by Sean McLoughlin.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty (Peter Cherrie, 88); Conor McCarthy (Steven Beattie, 72), Alan Bennett, Sean McLoughlin, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Gearoid Morrissey; Karl Sheppard, Garry Buckley, Kieran Sadlier; Graham Cummins (Josh O’Hanlon, 64).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Gavin Bazunu; Ethan Boyle, Joey O’Brien, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Sean Kavanagh; Sam Bone, Greg Bolger; Brandon Kavanagh (Joel Coustrain, 55), Ronan Finn; Dan Carr.
Referee: Rob Hennessy.
