Rising star Cillian Murphy gets first Cork City goal as Rebel Army win at UCD

UCD 0 

Cork City 1 

It was only a matter of time. Only a matter of time until teenage sensation Cillian Murphy grabbed himself a goal for Cork City, and the 16-year-old fired home his first for the club in the second half of their road win against UCD.

The Students had competed well at the UCD Bowl up until half-time. But, in the second half, Cork City raised the tempo early and piled on the opportunities, finding their way through in the 52nd minute.

Josh Fitzpatrick carved out a route down the right flank and fired in a low cross, and while Killian Cailloce intercepted and attempted to clear the danger, he kicked it straight to Cillian Murphy who was ready and waiting on the edge of the box.

Murphy gathered, took one touch, and fired beyond Dara Kavanagh to put City in front.

“It probably wasn't one of his better first halves tonight that we have seen, because he has been that good,” Cork City manager Barry Robson said of Cillian Murphy after the game. “But I think the finish was outstanding, I think he took it really well.

“I think he grew into the game after that as well and he took a little knock there so we had to protect him and take him off at the end.

“He is a good kid, we are going to miss him next week because he is away playing in U17 football when he should be really staying in playing first-team football.

“It was a pressing masterclass from us tonight, they just couldn't get out,” Robson remarked. “The way we pressed them, shut them down, counter-pressed them, they couldn't get out and we created some really good opportunities that we should have probably done better with.” 

That pressing intensity continued after they nailed the game’s only goal, though they were fortunate to avoid conceding the equaliser, when Killian Cailloce set up Stephen Mohan to force Conor Brann into an uncomfortable save in the 57th minute.

City had a few more decent chances after Murphy’s goal, Conor Drinan found Seani Maguire with an incisive cross but the City striker couldn’t direct his first-time effort towards goal. Murphy let one go from distance in the 61st minute, but Kavanagh turned it around for the corner.

City weren’t able to find a second goal despite controlling much of the second half, though UCD slipped through for a late opportunity that could have cost Robson’s side the full share of the points.

Michael Raggett teed up Ciaran Behan but the UCD forward fizzed his effort across goal and out for a goal kick.

“Everybody who watched that game there tonight [would see] it was pretty comfortable for us,” Robson added. “I think we should have put some more chances away, I think that is pretty obvious. I am really pleased with the work-rate of the players.

“My biggest thing that I have seen, is that the pitches can be a real leveller. Now, that is the same, anywhere in Britain [too]. The weather is a real leveller, that is what I have found. But the pleasing factor for my players is they’ve not let it get to them.

“They have kept going, you can see they are still trying to play the right way, they are still trying to play through the lines, play smart passes,” he said. 

“You can see that we are still doing that. So I am really pleased with them. But we probably have had to go and put balls in behind a bit more than we sometimes would.” 

The first half yielded several opportunities for City and only two real chances for the hosts. Louis Dignam had a long-shot saved early, while Mohan came close before the interval. Fitzpatrick saw a strike from distance saved, Hans Mpongo set up Seani Maguire in the 31st minute but his header was just wide. A minute later Fitzpatrick turned provider for Mpongo, but he couldn’t connect properly with the shot.

City’s best chance before the goal arrived three minutes before it, as Darragh Crowley skimmed the outside of the post after Greg Bolger’s corner cross was punched to him.

Once Murphy hit the net though, the result looked unlike to deviate from the script.

UCD (4-2-3-1): Kavanagh; L Cailloce, Lennox (Akimrintoyo 90+5), Holohan, Murphy (Morley 75); Wells, Dignam; K Cailloce (McCullagh 65), Behan, Mohan (Ogbonna 65); Smith (Raggett 75).

CORK CITY (3-4-1-2): Brann; Lyons, Kelleher, Feely; Fitzpatrick (Nevin 75), Bolger, Crowley, Mpongo (Drinan 58); Murphy (Bridge 83); Maguire, Keating (Murray 75).

Referee: L Keating (Cork)