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Steven Beattie of Cork celebrates scoring (file pic). Donall Farmer/INPHO
Winning

Cork earn emphatic six-goal win over hapless Longford

Steven Beattie scored a hat-trick in an easy win for the hosts.

Cork City 6 Longford Town 0

A RETURN TO winning ways never looked in doubt for Cork City at Turner’s Cross tonight as they put Longford Town to the sword, Steven Beattie scoring a hat-trick.

Less than three minutes had elapsed when Beattie opened the scoring for John Caulfield’s side and they asserted themselves from there, building a 3-0 half-time lead and comfortably seeing out the game in the second half.

While the teams went into this level on points after both won their openers only to lose at the weekend, the hosts were always a cut above, in front of 2,302 people. There were five changes from the loss to Derry City and two of the inclusions were involved in the opener as Colin Healy’s corner was parried by Longford goalkeeper Paul Skinner to Beattie on the edge of the box and he half-volleyed to the net.

It was 2-0 on 10 minutes thanks to a very well-worked move. Kenny Browne’s good ball from deep found Kevin O’Connor — another of those added to the side — in space behind the away defence. While he might have shot himself, he instead opted to square to Seán Maguire for an easy tap-in.

Danny Morrissey, Maguire, Karl Sheppard and Gearóid Morrissey all had further chances and just before half-time, Danny Morrissey did get the third, finishing well after Beattie had hit the post.

Danny Morrissey would himself find the woodwork two minutes into the second half but the home side didn’t have to wait too long. Beattie got his second on 52, another half-volley, after Morrissey chested Karl Sheppard’s cross into his path.

The chances continued to come, and Beattie got his hat-trick midway through the second half. Sheppard’s 35-yard shot rattled the bar and fell nicely for the number 10, who again gave Skinner no chance. There was still time for more and, late on, Morrissey got his second with a deft finish from captain John Dunleavy’s pass.

CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Eoghan O’Connell (Michael McSweeney 62), Kenny Browne, Kevin O’Connor; Colin Healy, Gearóid Morrissey (Mark O’Sullivan 62); Danny Morrissey, Steven Beattie, Karl Sheppard; Seán Maguire (Chiedozie Ogbene 76).

LONGFORD TOWN: Paul Skinner; Mark Hughes, Pat Flynn (Keith Beirne 83), Mark Rossiter, Daniel O’Reilly; David O’Sullivan, Jamie Mulhall, Kealan Dillon (John McKeown 61), Philip Gannon, Kaleem Simon (Karl Chambers 73); Josh O’Hanlon.

Referee: Seán Grant (Wexford).
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