Cork City 2
Galway United 1
Denis Hurley reports from Turner’s Cross.
GOALS FROM GARRY BUCKLEY and Karl Sheppard – the latter with the aid of a Lee Grace deflection – restored Cork City’s 18-point lead at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Beginning life without Kevin O’Connor and Seán Maguire following their moves to Preston North End, City found things difficult for long periods against the only side to have denied them a league victory this season.
A goal from former City player Gavan Holohan in the sixth minute saw Galway United lead for 46 minutes of the game, taking advantage of the hosts’ lethargy in the opening half.
But for a good Mark McNulty save from Padraic Cunningham, Galway’s lead would have been doubled and the striker also went close coming up to half-time, his effort blocked after McNulty parried Kevin Devaney’s effort.
On 48 minutes, Devaney was the supplier of a cross for Ronan Murray, who found the net, but illegally with his hand, and City improved thereafter.
After Sheppard shot over, they were level on 52 as Buckley fired a low shot past Conor Winn from 20 yard when a cross broke to him, and more chances followed.
Winn saved Stephen Dooley’s volley and also acrobatically kept out Buckley’s header from Steven Beattie’s cross, but the home faithful wouldn’t have long to wait.
Beattie was again the man sending the cross in for what proved to be the winner, with Sheppard getting his head on the ball and Grace turning it in in his efforts to keep it out.
Buckley might have made it 3-1 after a good run but he shot wide and Sheppard was also wide following a break from a Galway corner.
Grace could have made those misses costly in injury time but his header came back off the post and City took the points.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie (Connor Ellis 89), Alan Bennett, Ryan Delaney, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Gearóid Morrissey; Kieran Sadlier (Achille Campion half-time), Garry Buckley, Stephen Dooley (Conor McCarthy 82); Karl Sheppard.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Lee Grace, Stephen Folan, Colm Horgan; Kevin Devaney, Alex Byrne (Ronan Manning 85), Gavan Holohan, David Cawley, Marc Ludden; Padraic Cunningham (Eoin McCormack 64), Ronan Murray.
Referee: Seán Grant (Wexford).
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
