Cork City pegged back by champions Shelbourne

Shelbourne 1 Cork City 1 

Despite failing to hold onto their lead Cork City will be pleased with their point against Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night. 

City went ahead early in the second half through Ruairi Keating but were pegged back in the 71st minute when Evan Caffrey levelled. The City goal lived a charmed life for the final 20 minutes, but some excellent defending as well as a bit of luck ensured the Rebel Army earned their first point on the road this season.

For 65 minutes of the game, Tim Clancy’s men matched the champions but Shels upped the tempo and it was a difficult final 25 minutes for the visitors.

City made one change from the side that drew with Sligo Rovers in their last outing with Freddie Anderson, who returned following his one-game suspension, coming into the team in place of the injured Malik Dijksteel. The inclusion of Anderson saw City switch to back-three with Alex Nolan playing alongside Keating.

City were first to threaten in the game with Charlie Lyons forcing Conor Kearns into making a good stop after four minutes. The City captain managed to get a glancing header on an inswinging free-kick from Bernando Couto but it was straight at Kearns and the keeper was able to tip it over the crossbar.

City were comfortable in the early stages against the champions and were arguably the better side. The midfield trio of Rio Shipston, Sean Murray and Kitt Nelson were very calm in possession and were controlling the game.

However Shels were dangerous on the counter-attack particularly down City’s right-hand side with Darragh Crowley finding it difficult to get up to the speed of the game. It was his foul that led to the hosts’ first chance with Ali Coote’s free-kick going inches wide of the post.

Shels were growing in confidence as the half aged with the champions enjoying better spells of possession. Kerr McInroy forced Tein Troost into a smart save, with the City keeper tipping the effort over the bar.

Unsurprisingly Couto was impressive in the game with the City player looking a real danger down the left-hand side. On numerous occasions, the former Oldham Athletic player put excellent crosses into the box but unfortunately, no City player could get on the end of them.

Nolan produced a moment of magic in the latter stages of the half when he danced past three Shels players but his goal-bound effort was blocked at the crucial moment.

The City player was played through on goal moments later but he lacked composure and was easily dispossessed by Kameron Ledwidge.

City started the second half strong with Couto again causing problems for Shels, this time finding Keating inside the home side’s penalty area but the City striker failed to make a proper connection with the ball.

City were in front five minutes into the half when Keating reacted quickest to fire home from close range after Kearns had made an early contender for save of the season when he managed to get a foot to Shipston's deflected effort. The City striker was in the right place at the right time to fire in the rebound.

Crowley came to City’s rescue when positioned himself excellently on the goalline to head Sean Boyd’s powerful striker over the crossbar.

City were getting deeper and deeper and Shels drew level when Caffrey showed great technique to volley home from inside the City penalty area. The champions certainly went up a gear after conceding and deserved their equaliser.

The City goal was living a charmed life with Coote coming close, before Crowley again produced another goalline clearance to deny John Martin from giving Shels all three points.

SHELS: Kearns; Gannon, Barrett, Ledgwidge, Norris (O’Kane 67); Wood (Caffrey 46), Chapman (Odubeko 46), Coote (Coyle 81), Lunney (Martin 81), McInroy; Boyd.

CITY: Troost; MBeng, Anderson, Lyons; Crowley Murray (Healy 78), Shipston, Nelson (Fitzpatrick 73), Couto; Nolan (Skieters 90), Keating.

Referee:

R Harvey