Cork City relegated at Turner's Cross as Jack Henry-Francis strikes late for Shelbourne

Cork City 1 

Shelbourne 2 

And so, Cork City are gone.

Relegation had long felt like an inevitability rather than a possibility, but Monday night made it official. Seani Maguire’s 79th-minute equaliser offered a brief flicker of defiance, yet nine minutes later Jack Henry-Francis drove home for Shelbourne, sealing City’s fate and bringing their brief Premier Division stay to an end.

They can have few complaints. For too long they played like a side resigned to their fate – flat, hesitant, and without conviction. The stands reflected the same fatigue. Just 1,611 supporters came through the gates at Turner’s Cross, a stark contrast to the 5,000-plus who roared them into the FAI Cup final earlier.

And when Daniel Kelly’s opening goal put Shels in front in the third minute, City struggled to find the burst they have had in previous weeks until the final 15 minutes.

Evan McLaughlin’s corner was flicked on by Kelleher, and Maguire – always alive to the half-chance – poked it home from close range to draw City level in the 79th minute.

There was energy now, noise, belief. And then, just as quickly, it was gone.

Milan Mbeng, booed every time he touched the ball, almost silenced Turner’s Cross when his header flashed wide in the 81st minute. His next effort, a low drive from distance six minutes later, was turned away by Odumosu in the 87th minute.

But the reprieve lasted barely 60 seconds. McInroy’s initial shot was blocked by Charlie Lyons, but he pounced on the loose ball, squared to Henry-Francis, and the finish was emphatic. He wheeled away to the Shelbourne fans, arms out wide, as City’s players sank.

It had begun badly and never looked like ending any other way.

Kerr McInroy’s crossfield pass opened them up, Daniel Kelly, all alone on City’s right flank, took it in stride, and before David Odumosu could narrow the angle, the winger lashed a half-volley into the top corner after three minutes. Ruthless, early, terminal.

Shelbourne, sharper and surer in everything they did, played like the team refreshed by a week-long break – not the side back in after playing Friday.

City were heavy-legged, short on spark, and devoid of energy. Josh Fitzpatrick fizzed a low ball across goal that begged for a touch in the eighth minute, but nobody in white and green obliged.

There were flickers in the first half, however minimal. Kitt Nelson linked with Fitzpatrick again after 20 minutes, his looping cross clipping the bar and landing behind – a half-chance that nearly became an accident of fortune.

But Shels were the ones dictating. Alistair Coote almost twisted the knife before the half-hour, Kelleher again rescuing matters with a last-ditch tackle. From there, it was mostly containment. Alex Nolan had a speculative pop from range easily saved, while Coote blazed over from a dangerous position inside the box for Shels on 37 minutes.

Kelleher, the busiest man in the first half, produced yet another block before the break. But City went down the tunnel trailing – and needing two goals in the second half to delay the inevitable.

The second half was an improvement, City showing a lot more urgency and Kitt Nelson in particular, who came close to scoring in the 51st minute, but his close range effort was saved. Fitzpatrick continued to run himself into the ground, and even teed up Kelleher for a headed effort that was off target in the 65th minute.

They would get one back, but their hopes of rescuing a winner were buried under the rubble when Henry-Francis struck late. All that remains now, are the hopes and dreams the Aviva has to offer.

CORK CITY: Odumosu; Kelleher (c), Feely, Lyons (Hanover 90+4); Fitzpatrick, McLaughlin, Bolger (S Murray 74), Crowley; Nelson (Couto 74), Maguire, Nolan (Lutz 85).

SHELBOURNE: Speel; Norris (Wilson 55), Temple, Coyle; Kelly (Caffrey 66), McInroy, Henry-Francis, Mbeng; Coote (Lunney 66), Martin (Odubeko 81), Wood (Boyd 55).

Referee: N Doyle (Dublin)