More magic from Cathal sees Cork City beat Finn Harps

Cork City 1

Finn Harps 0

Another moment of magic from Cathal O’Sullivan helped Cork City defeat Finn Harps at Turners Cross last night.

In a game that lacked entertainment, O’Sullivan once again stepped up to the plate by scoring another wonder goal to add to the two he scored against Wexford in City’s previous match, and maintain the Rebel Army’s 15-point lead at the top of the First Division.

City made two changes from the side that defeated Wexford. Conor Drinan came in for his first start in three games, with Jack Doherty also recalled to the starting 11, having come off the bench to score City’s third goal in that victory against Wexford. Arran Healy and Cian Murphy were the players to drop to the bench.

It was a strong start from Harps who could have been ahead twice inside the opening three minutes of the game, firstly through Sean Patton, who fired wide from close-range, and then through Conor Tourish after the defender had risen above everyone inside the penalty area to meet Patrick Ferry’s inswinging corner but headed off target.

The visitors continued their impressive start with Jamie Watson next to try his luck, but his effort went just over the top of the crossbar.

It was a very poor opening from City, who were well off their usual standards. Players didn’t seem to really want the ball; it was more of a gesture from some of them when they did show for it, knowing that they weren’t in a good enough position to receive a pass.

The hosts did grow into the game and started to control possession. Evan McLaughlin once again was providing an outlet down City’s left-hand side and looked threatening going forward. His cross to Malik Dijksteel almost led to the game’s opening goal but the Dutchman’s effort was straight at Tim Hiemer.

Tourish once again caused City’s problems from a Harps set-piece when he managed to get his toe to the ball from Tony McNamee’s free-kick but saw his effort come off the outside of the post.

O’Sullivan made his first real contribution to the game just before the half-time interval when he played a one-two with Jack Doherty, however the 17-year-old’s strike went well over the crossbar.

Considering that City manager Tim Clancy has shown he is not afraid to make substitutions when things haven’t gone well in games this season, it was a bit of a surprise that he opted against making a switch or two at half-time, especially in the forward-line where the experiment of Conor Drinan as a centre-forward did not work well in the first half.

However, it was O’Sullivan who broke the deadlock in the 64th minute when he collected the ball just inside Finn Harps’ half before driving at the visitor’s defence and curling the ball into the far top corner leaving Hiemer motionless in the Harps goal.

The goal gave City more belief with Barry Coffey, Jack Doherty and McLaughlin all going close to increasing the home side’s advantage.

Harps pressed for an equaliser but City managed to hold onto their lead thanks to efforts in particular from Brad Wade, Cian Coleman, and Charlie Lyons.

Cork City: Wade; Crowley, Coleman, Lyons, McLaughlin; Bolger, Coffey (Healy 78), Doherty; O’Sullivan (Kiernan 87), Dijksteel (Fitzpatrick 68), Drinan (Murphy 68).

Finn Harps: Hiemer; Watson, Makinson (Baba 78), Tourish, Doherty (Coyle 72): Ferry (McAteer 62), Cawley, McNamee, Rainey (Gilmore 62), McLaughlin (Johnston 62); Patton.

Referee: D Murphy