Sligo Rovers 0
Cork City 0
A MISSED PENALTY from Sean Maguire meant Cork City’s meeting with Sligo Rovers ended in a scoreless draw at The Showgrounds this evening,
Although many would have expected the visitors to completely dominate proceedings, they failed to make the most of their opportunities and with Micheál Schlingermann on high alert they were struggling to get at goal.
Kieran Sadlier skimmed the crossbar with his free-kick after just eight minutes, while Jaanai Gordon came close to converting a Craig Roddan ball before McNulty closed down the danger.
Cork spent a lot of the opening half in the hosts’ area, but failed to beat the Kiltimagh native on the line, as he blocked efforts from Maguire, Dooley, Sheppard and O’Connor – to name but a few.
The home fans thought their team had taken the lead early in the second-half when Sadlier worked his way into the area from the right-hand side, and with an awkward angle from the touchline he managed to volley towards goal, with McNulty forced to get a hand to it.
The visitors were awarded a penalty after 55 minutes, when Schlingermann pulled down Sheppard in the area. Former Sligo man Maguire stepped up to take the spot-kick, hitting it directly at Schlingermann to keep it scoreless.
An excellent save from McNulty shortly afterwards prevented Sligo from taking the lead. Keohane’s shot from a Martin cross took a touch from Gordon, and McNulty managed to get his body in the way.
Donegal man Martin really should have given the Bit o’Red the lead after 76 minutes when he ran on to a floated ball from Sadlier, somehow just dragging it wide of McNulty’s post.
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Regan Donelon, Michael Leahy, Gary Boylan, Jimmy Keohane, Craig Roddan, Jordan Richards (John Russell, 46), Kieran Sadlier, Liam Martin, Jaanai Gordon (Chris Lyons, 62).
Subs: Ciaran Nugent, Gary Armstrong, Raffaele Cretaro, Mikey Place.
Cork City: Mark McNulty, John Dunleavy, Kenny Browne, Eoghan O’Connell, Kevin O’Connor, Gearoid Morrissey, Colin Healy (Garry Buckley, 54), Stephen Dooley, Steven Beattie (Ian Turner, 78), Karl Sheppard, Seani Maguire (Mark O’Sullivan, 84).
Subs: Alan Smith, Michael McSweeney, Gavan Holohan, Danny Morrissey.
Referee: Rob Harvey
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