Cork City see off stubborn Leicester Celtic to progress in FAI Cup
Charlie Lutz of Cork City shoots to score his side's first goal, from a penalty, during the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup second round match between Cork City and Leicester Celtic at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
It was far from straightforward, but Cork City eventually found a way past a resilient Leicester Celtic side in the FAI Cup Second Round at Turner’s Cross on Saturday afternoon.
Three second-half goals, including a penalty and an own goal ensured Ger Nash got his first win in charge of the Rebel Army, just in time for their crunch league meeting with ninth-placed Sligo Rovers next Friday.
The hosts were dominant, as expected to be against their Leinster Senior League opponents. They were sluggish at times, and the scoreline did flatter them. But equally, Leicester Celtic put up a superb fight.
Chants of ‘super keeper’ rang out from the travelling support at the end of the game, which summed up Charles Delmotte’s heroics between the posts. He was immense.
Having made another big save to deny Malik Dijksteel in the 66th minute, he could do little to stop City getting the opener three minutes later.
As City were knocking it around patiently trying to forge a way through, Daniel McCullagh lunged a little too far and tripped Charlie Lutz just inside the box. It was Lutz then who stepped up, and fired the penalty into the bottom corner with 69 minutes elapsed. Less than 120 seconds later City would double that lead.
Rory Feely’s over-the-top through ball was perfectly controlled by Lutz. He opted to play it a back to Kitt Nelson, who took a touch and fired the ball beyond Delmotte from just inside the box.
With City as dominant as ever in possession, finding one goal back was a huge ask – let alone two. The result was finalised in the 88th minute as Couto’s free-kick was met by Leicester Celtic’s Kevin Curry, but he turned the ball into his own net. It was unfortunate, but he had been outstanding at centre-back up to that point.
Bigger tests await this City side. The relegation question still looms, but they did what was needed on Saturday.
From the off, City, as expected, established control. But clear chances were few and far between against a well-drilled visiting defence.
In fact, the best opening of the first half fell to the Leinster Senior League outfit.
After Lutz rattled the post at one end, Leicester Celtic broke swiftly on the counter, and Fionnan O’Reilly looked set to score before Fiacre Kelleher made a vital intervention just inside the area.
City’s chance had been well worked – a beautiful ball over the top from Darragh Crowley found Joshua Fitzpatrick, who worked hard to keep it in, before squaring it to Lutz.
Fitzpatrick did the same seven minutes on, setting up Lutz after receiving the pass from Kelleher – but a big save from Delmotte ensured parity remained.
The rest of the half was more of the same for City. Plenty of possession. Half chance after half chance. Still no breakthrough.
Just before the break, Kitt Nelson floated his free-kick in over the top. It landed in front of Kelleher. He was one-on-one, but hesitated. Caught between squaring it and shooting first time, he ended up dragging the ball wide – a glaring miss from close range.
City’s frustrations continued early in the second. Defender Freddie Anderson went close twice from corners – the first headed effort was saved, the second clattered the crossbar.
They kept knocking, and Leicester Celtic stood firm. In the 63rd minute, Malik Dijksteel’s low effort was blocked, and Benny Couto blazed over from the rebound.
Moments later, Nelson slipped Dijksteel through, but his strike across goal was turned away for a corner by the impressive Delmotte. It took 69 minutes, but they never looked like losing after the penalty. The two goals that followed ensured they would win.
C Brann; M Kiernan (B Couto 60), F Anderson, F Kelleher (c), R Feely (H Nevin 75); D Crowley (E McLaughlin 60), K Nelson (M Murray 75), C O’Sullivan; M Dijksteel, C Lutz, J Fitzpatrick (A Nolan 70).
C Delmotte; K Ndee (E Lawless 74), C Bagrin (D Miley 89), D McCullagh, K Curry; E Hennessy, O Norton, R Fortune (T Norton 60), H Keller; K Maguire (c) (C Temple 89), F O’Reilly (C Clancy-Kelly 74).
D White (Dublin)
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