Rugby, Rovers, and Racism?!

Photo's courtesy of Mick Ring and Blink of an Eye Photography

Once again we took to the fields of Musgrave Park to see another 'refugee' packed City team try and beat what was a near-full strength Sligo Rovers last Friday. The day seemed to promise another wet and windy backdrop to a game of football, but the skies cleared sufficently and a relatively calm night settled over City's penultamate pre-season friendly.

The crowd wasn't nearly as big as that who turned out for Shamrock Rovers a fortnight ago, but the regulars as well as a brave handful of Sligo fans made the long trip down the West coast. The subs hadn't even taken their seats before Sligo broke the deadlock, Matthew Blinkhorn hitting a stunning floated volley beyond the stranded Mark McNulty and into the top right hand corner of the City net.

That didn't deter the Leesiders who battled on despite the early setback, and restored parity in a frantic openning 10 minutes. Timmy Kiely playing in Graham Cummins to drive home his second goal in as many games. The game settled down, with City matching the current FAI Cup holders in nearly every department, but were let off the hook on a number of occasions after a series mistakes from McNulty. This time last season Gearóid Morrissey was struggling to regain fitness after a long back injury, but the midfielder looked imperious in midfield this time around, controlling the midfield along with new signing Escudé-Canadu. The Mahon-native flashed a low drive wide from about 25-yards to remind the Premier outfit of the danger City posess before the half.

The second-half began with the same tempo as the first, and both keepers had to be on their toes to keep the scores level. Brendan Cullen denied Canadu his second goal for the Rebel Army, while down the other end a John Dillon dip forced an excellent save from McNulty. Sligo were getting on top in the game though and it seemed that it was only a matter of time before they regained the lead. Rafael Cretaro saw his header just clear the crossbar as the Bit O'Red kept up the pressure. John Russel finally broke the deadlock against a flagging City backline, Alan Kirby fed the ball to Russell, and the 25-year-old stroked his shot beyond McNulty into the back of the net. It could have been three soon after, the Ballincollig shotstopper still had difficulty with the ball at his feet, and his attempted clearence fell straight to Dillon, who squared the ball to Blinkhorn, who, in contrast to his spectactular opening volley, smashed the ball miles over the bar and through the rugby posts; three points Sligo then?

As a contest it was over really, City really falling away after an impressive first half showing, and Kirby put the final nail in the coffin just before the end, firing his shot low and right into the City bottom right hand corner. City fans amused themselvs by acknowledging the presence of Jason McGuinnes, a man now famed for his racist outbust against former team-mate Joseph Ndo; 'So I hear you're a racist now Jason?!' was probably the only publishable comment over the course of the night.

Once again an impressive first half showing fell away after the break, and City manager Tommy Dunne will be hoping his side will find their killer instinct before the season starts at home to Wexford Youths on March 4th.

Next week 2009 Champions and last years runners-up Bohemians come to Cork, and it's a return to Turners Cross after our recent exploits at Musgrave Park.

Au Revoir,
Kev