The best result in the club's history since the fans took it over, we beat St. Pats! Through now to the League Cup semi which, if a draw favours us, could see us in the final of a major competition despite our First Division status!
I turned up to the Cross early, anticipating a big crowd for what was a national cup semi-final, against Premier opposition, on a bank holiday Monday. How wrong was I?! That day's Cork City Marathon must've had a profound effect with its traffic delays, as only 1,077 people made their way into Turners Cross, over 100 less than went to see the Mervue United game (This city really makes no sense!)
Despite the paltry crowd, we did our best to create some atmosphere inside the stadium, but it wasn't long before the stadium fell quiet, albeit momentarily. Greg O'Halloran forced to head the ball into his own net, but opposite number Paul Crowley flagged for offside. A collective sigh of relief could be heard all around the ground, still in the game!
From there City upped the work rate, desperate not to go behind. They managed to soak up the pressure, and then took the lead against the run of play 20 minutes in courtesy of a wonderstrike by Derek O'Brien. The former Pats winger took a pass from Vincent Escudé-Candau and fired a shot from the edge of the box into the top right hand corner and past the despairing dive of Chris Bennion. 1-0 City!
Escudé-Candau was the driving force behind all things good for City, playing in the pocket just behind the mid 4, a role he revelled in during the pre-season games. His distribtuion and work rate was top notch, and again he was involved in an attack that led to O'Brien scuffing his shot wide. At this stage the momentum was all with the home side, and Kalen Spillane could've doubled the lead on the half hour mark, but he could only hook a shot over the bar.
Pats then had two excellent chances to level things, first a cross-come-shot from Daryl Kavanagh forced McNulty to backtrack and brilliantly claw the ball away from the goal-line, and from the following corner Shane McFaul missed an absolute sitter on the back post. City were still the better team, and O'Brien was giving his former team the run around. He almost had his second if it wasn't for the despairing dive by Ian Bermingham who managed to clear the Tralee native's effort off the line.
That ended a truly fantastic first half of football, and the best half performance from a City side we'd seen all season, all we had to do now was try to hold onto it for the second.
Some strong words by Pete Mahon at half time. (As a matter of fact I'd say more, he never shut up moaning for the entire words!) Paul Crowley had a golden opportunity to bring his side level right at the start of the second, but he could only fire wide under pressure from an excellent McNulty. With City sitting back and inviting pressure that miss only delayed the inevitable, and on 57 minutes Seán Stewart crossed for Neil (Mary) Harney, and his header skidded of the Turners Cross turf and past the helpless City netminder.
That was the kick up the backside City needed though, and it seemed far from spur on the Dubs, it gave them a false sense of security, the hard work was done they thought, obviously forgetting who they were coming up against. Candau stretched himself to head over, as the game settled down for the first time in the match, both teams desperately attempting to conserve energy after a blitzing first hour.
The winner was scored in the 71st minute, as Candau once again ran rings around the Saints' defence before laying the ball off to Graham Cummins. He curled a shot around the despairing Bennion, the ball touching off the post (and creating that awful split second of doubt!) before nestling in the back of the net. Cue delirium on three sides of the ground, and it felt like a full Shed the way we were in voice!
Candau wanted a goal of his own, and his shot seemed destined for the top left hand corner of the net before a spectacular, diving, top-handed save by Bennion somehow managed to keep the defecit to one. From there it was a matter of holding on, and Pats applied the pressure, desperate not to be the first side out at the Quarter-Final stage. City repelled them excellently, until Mulcahy forced a diving save from McNulty, the ball fell right at the feet of Kavanagh and we were set to go to extra-time, but McNulty wasn't! The Ballincollig native sprang back up and leaped in the opposite direction to deny Kavanagh a surefire goal, before Neal Horgan managed to clear.
Relief and joy surronded Turner's Cross when Pádraig Sutton blew the full time whistle. City's unbeaten run in major competitions continues, Pats left to head back to Dublin licking their wounds after another League Cup defeat at the hands of the Leesiders!
For me, it will be the last time I'll see the inside of the Cross (and probably City) until the 24th. Hopefully a trip to Monaghan will be made (probably not though) and then it's France for three weeks on the 26th!
Until whenever really,
Corcaigh Abú! (and all of that)
Kev
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Grassy Banks
Still unbeaten!
Two close away trips, two games short on goals and two results that City will be content, but not exactly thrilled with. Starting in Limerick on the 30th May. A short spin upto the Treaty City reminded us of the privelege we have, calling Turners Cross our home. After buying our tickets out of the back of a Ford Transit, climbing over the broken turnstile, walking around to the opposite side past the abandoned flats and rows of portaloos we took our spot on the away end of the grassy knoll, cornered off from the rest of the ground. In all honesty though it made no difference, our spot was one of the best in the ground all things told as a small City crowd settled for our what'll hopefully be our only venture to Stab City.
The standard of the game matched the standard of the ground for the most part, and it wasn't until a quarter of an hour in a chance fashioned itself, Peter Hynes' shot flashing over the crossbar. As a matter of fact, it was the home side who were having the better chances, albeit on the counter. Purcell heading dangerously across the City box but the ball cleared, while Hynes again couldn't keep his effort down, this time a header. Next Mark McNulty was called into action, parrying the ever-dangerous Hynes' volley around the post before the half time whistle was blown.
So not a whole lot to warm up the crowd on what was a cold night on the West coast despite the fleeting sunlight. City had far and away the best chance of the match on 55 minutes; Vinny Sullivan working hard to win the ball of ex-City defender Brian O'Callaghan and square the ball for Shane Duggan who blasted the ball over from six yards with virtually an open goal abegging (The third open goal missed in the space of five days).
O'Callaghan then went down with what turned out to be a dislocated knee, and while the Limerick native writhed around in agony, two members of the Civil Defense (Who were providing the ambulance cover) stood arms folded as the other rushed about looking for a stretcher. Eventually one was found and he was hoisted on by Limerick netminder Barry Ryan (The pair's arms still folded behind the goal) and clapped off the pitch.
The game restarted Cork native (and former classmate) David O'Leary had a few shots on target but nothing too difficult for McNulty, before Jefferey Judge smacked the near post with a whistling shot. From there both sides resigned themselves to a point, despite Paraic Quinn's long-range effort that forced a sharp save from McNulty. All 776 leaving content with a point ahead of the FAI Cup break.
Our next away trip was even closer, as a matter of fact we didn't even have to leave the county boundary as we travelled 20 the minutes to Midleton in a FAI Cup 3rd round clash. Tests over, summer holidays on, and this time the sun was out as well as the heat! 26 degrees as we made our way out to Knockgriffin Park, which whilst modest was splendidly presented for the game. This was the Munster Senior League's side glamour game of the season, and a crowd of about 1,300 came out to see the first Cork derby involving City in the FAI Cup for quite some time.
After a bizarre rendition of 'Amhrán na bhFiann' by the local brass band the game began, and was about as big on chances as Limerick four days previous, and the majority of the time the ball was in the air. This suited Midleton, who were soaking up the pressure well. Vincent Escudé-Candau seeing his shot wide before Midleton 'keeper Jason Green was counting his lucky stars after he misjudged a Derek O'Brien throw, but thankfully for him the ball carried over his head and over the bar from the bounce off a rock-hard yet pristene pitch. It was the Non-League side that had the best chance of the first half, when Kalen Spillane was caught from a high ball, but Andrew Knowles couldn't capatilise, blasting the ball over the bar.
Half-time saw the various sucessful underage squads paraded at half time (A nice touch) and our first sight of Paul Deasy since his departure from the club last year (Only making the bench it seems). City started to create chances in the second half, and relieved pressure by scoring in the 53rd minute. Graham Cummins converting a penalty he had won after being hauled down in the box. Vinny Sullivan doubled the advantage a few minutes later, when his excellent snapshot from the edge of the box caught Green off guard and curled into the corner of the net.
Deasy came on soon after, and supplied a dangerous ball in from a free-kick on the right, which McNulty spilled, but Stephen O'Leary smacked the bar from the rebound. Then Green had t produce his best to deny Cummins with a flying save to his left. But the East Cork outfit were all out of gas, and exited the competition after a valiant display; and on the way home the thermometer read 18 degrees despite it being 10 at night! The only Cork side left in the competition now are Youghal, who face Bray Wanderers at home on the 5th June.
For City, the bank-holiday Monday plays host to our biggest challenge, and arguably our biggest game of the season to date. A home League Cup Quarter Final clash with St. Patrick's Athletic.
Until then,
Arrividerci!
Kev
Two close away trips, two games short on goals and two results that City will be content, but not exactly thrilled with. Starting in Limerick on the 30th May. A short spin upto the Treaty City reminded us of the privelege we have, calling Turners Cross our home. After buying our tickets out of the back of a Ford Transit, climbing over the broken turnstile, walking around to the opposite side past the abandoned flats and rows of portaloos we took our spot on the away end of the grassy knoll, cornered off from the rest of the ground. In all honesty though it made no difference, our spot was one of the best in the ground all things told as a small City crowd settled for our what'll hopefully be our only venture to Stab City.
The standard of the game matched the standard of the ground for the most part, and it wasn't until a quarter of an hour in a chance fashioned itself, Peter Hynes' shot flashing over the crossbar. As a matter of fact, it was the home side who were having the better chances, albeit on the counter. Purcell heading dangerously across the City box but the ball cleared, while Hynes again couldn't keep his effort down, this time a header. Next Mark McNulty was called into action, parrying the ever-dangerous Hynes' volley around the post before the half time whistle was blown.
So not a whole lot to warm up the crowd on what was a cold night on the West coast despite the fleeting sunlight. City had far and away the best chance of the match on 55 minutes; Vinny Sullivan working hard to win the ball of ex-City defender Brian O'Callaghan and square the ball for Shane Duggan who blasted the ball over from six yards with virtually an open goal abegging (The third open goal missed in the space of five days).
O'Callaghan then went down with what turned out to be a dislocated knee, and while the Limerick native writhed around in agony, two members of the Civil Defense (Who were providing the ambulance cover) stood arms folded as the other rushed about looking for a stretcher. Eventually one was found and he was hoisted on by Limerick netminder Barry Ryan (The pair's arms still folded behind the goal) and clapped off the pitch.
The game restarted Cork native (and former classmate) David O'Leary had a few shots on target but nothing too difficult for McNulty, before Jefferey Judge smacked the near post with a whistling shot. From there both sides resigned themselves to a point, despite Paraic Quinn's long-range effort that forced a sharp save from McNulty. All 776 leaving content with a point ahead of the FAI Cup break.
Our next away trip was even closer, as a matter of fact we didn't even have to leave the county boundary as we travelled 20 the minutes to Midleton in a FAI Cup 3rd round clash. Tests over, summer holidays on, and this time the sun was out as well as the heat! 26 degrees as we made our way out to Knockgriffin Park, which whilst modest was splendidly presented for the game. This was the Munster Senior League's side glamour game of the season, and a crowd of about 1,300 came out to see the first Cork derby involving City in the FAI Cup for quite some time.
After a bizarre rendition of 'Amhrán na bhFiann' by the local brass band the game began, and was about as big on chances as Limerick four days previous, and the majority of the time the ball was in the air. This suited Midleton, who were soaking up the pressure well. Vincent Escudé-Candau seeing his shot wide before Midleton 'keeper Jason Green was counting his lucky stars after he misjudged a Derek O'Brien throw, but thankfully for him the ball carried over his head and over the bar from the bounce off a rock-hard yet pristene pitch. It was the Non-League side that had the best chance of the first half, when Kalen Spillane was caught from a high ball, but Andrew Knowles couldn't capatilise, blasting the ball over the bar.
Half-time saw the various sucessful underage squads paraded at half time (A nice touch) and our first sight of Paul Deasy since his departure from the club last year (Only making the bench it seems). City started to create chances in the second half, and relieved pressure by scoring in the 53rd minute. Graham Cummins converting a penalty he had won after being hauled down in the box. Vinny Sullivan doubled the advantage a few minutes later, when his excellent snapshot from the edge of the box caught Green off guard and curled into the corner of the net.
Deasy came on soon after, and supplied a dangerous ball in from a free-kick on the right, which McNulty spilled, but Stephen O'Leary smacked the bar from the rebound. Then Green had t produce his best to deny Cummins with a flying save to his left. But the East Cork outfit were all out of gas, and exited the competition after a valiant display; and on the way home the thermometer read 18 degrees despite it being 10 at night! The only Cork side left in the competition now are Youghal, who face Bray Wanderers at home on the 5th June.
For City, the bank-holiday Monday plays host to our biggest challenge, and arguably our biggest game of the season to date. A home League Cup Quarter Final clash with St. Patrick's Athletic.
Until then,
Arrividerci!
Kev
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