Hat-trick hero Seani Maguire inspires Cork City from two goals down in thriller with Kerry

Cork City 4 Kerry FC 2 

Cork City’s impressive nine game unbeaten run continues after a second-half demolition job against Kerry FC at Turner’s Cross on Easter Monday. A total of 5,366 flocked to Turner’s Cross as Seani Maguire put on a second half show to grab a hat-trick and pull City back from 2-0 down.

It didn’t come easy for the hosts, not until they had the third goal and victory in their hands.

The first half was hugely frustrating for Barry Robson’s side. Wave after wave of City chances were repelled by a stubborn Kerry back four. Even after Maguire pulled one back on 55 minutes, the same problems persisted.

Cillian Murphy had countless blocked chances. Greg Bolger had one superbly saved in the 69th minute. Murphy had another chance go over the bar minutes later.

The atmosphere rose with the tempo. The atmosphere spiked on a couple of occasions, when the home crowd felt City were denied clear-cut penalties. Their calls would be answered at the third shout.

In the 78th minute, Darragh Crowley’s cross in saw Fiacre Kelleher head at goal, but he was dragged down by Vincent Borden in the process.

Daryl Carolyn pointed to the spot, Borden received his second yellow and subsequent marching orders. Maguire made no mistake from the spot.

Nine minutes to go, City back on level terms, Kerry down a man.

City kept plugging. Conor Drinan had an 89th minute chance turned out for a corner. Murphy delivered that corner, and Kelleher posted it to the net and the Shed End erupted. And they’d receive even more joy a minute later.

Hans Mpongo slipped by Harry Halwax and squared it for Maguire, who poked to the open net to grab his hat-trick and seal the win in style in the second minute of added time.

It was a statement victory, the Rebel Army are going to be very hard to stop en route to the First Division title.

The fact City didn’t manage to find the net with even one of the countless chances they had in that first half was a shock. That they trailed 2-0 was even more stunning.

They had been the better side for much of the opening period, but two errors – one at the beginning and the other at the end of the half – gave Robson’s side plenty of work to do.

With two minutes played Fiacre Kelleher was caught for an accidental handball and the penalty was awarded. Former City striker Cian Murphy blasted home – then celebrated a little too close to the Shed End for their liking – but Kerry were ahead after three minutes and City were trailing in a game for the first time this season.

After controlling much of that opening act, City had nothing to show for it approaching added time. Three minutes into first-half additional time, Ryan Kelliher found himself with space up front. He cut inside, sent Crowley sliding the other way, and got his shot away.

Kelleher couldn’t stop it, neither could Brann, and Kerry were 2-0 up.

By the interval Robson had seen enough, changes were swiftly made.

Both Ruairí Keating and AJ Bridge, the latter of which was making his first start, were pulled. Greg Bolger and Drinan – both dropped from the draw against Finn Harps – were reintroduced. Both did very well in that second half.

Eventually, City found their opening. Fitzpatrick’s cross found Maguire, and he got to the header ahead of Jonas Häkkinen to get one back for City in the 55th minute. The next goal would be just as hard fought, but once City got the second and Borden saw red, the green wall collapsed.

CORK CITY (3-4-1-2): Brann; Kelleher, Lyons (Nevin 90+1), Feely; Mpongo, Bridge (Bolger HT), Crowley, Fitzpatrick; Murphy; Maguire (Murray 90+3), Keating (Drinan HT).

KERRY FC (4-2-3-1): Halwax; Cooney (O’Connell 52), Häkkinen, Cantwell, Lee; Brookwell, Borden; Murphy, Healy (Perez 90+3), Bargary; Kelliher (Koufie 74).

Referee: D Carolan (Louth)