Cork City eye fifth straight win to stretch First Division lead
Cork City's Hans Mpongo. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Cork City will look to stretch their lead at the top of the First Division table once more as they host Finn Harps at Turner's Cross this evening (7.45pm).
Twelve points clear after 17 games, City have won four on the bounce since back-to-back defeats to Cobh Ramblers and Kerry threatened to open the door for UCD. A fifth consecutive win this evening would leave them in a very commanding position heading into the break in fixtures.
City have managed consecutive away wins without conceding – against Longford Town, Athlone Town and Treaty United – following on from their 3-1 home victory over UCD.
Ruairí Keating's penalty goal at the Markets Field on Monday evening was the difference on an evening where City struggled to produce their most fluid, with manager Barry Robson especially pleased with the character they showed in the second half to grind out the win.
“I think that I was so proud of our players tonight,” Robson said after the Treaty win. “Just for the reason being, that was our third game away from home in a row.
“We had obviously we got Seani Maguire, [Josh] Fitzpatrick, Matty [Kiernan], we got a few players out injured. I think when you take that into account, I was so proud.
“We played some really good stuff this year and been really fast and aggressive, but I was so proud of the players because they were out on their feet there, in that heat, 30 degree heat, they were really out on their feet, but they showed character and will to win.
“I thought we were alright first half,” Robson explained. “We moved the ball about, we were the better team, but second half we were just running on empty with the heat, so that for me is just as good as playing well sometimes.”
Finn Harps arrive this evening sitting eighth on 18 points from 17 games, with a goal difference of -7.
Last time out they drew 2-2 with Longford Town, as academy graduates Aaron McLaughlin and Odhran McHugh got on the scoresheet as they hit the net in the 87th minute and stoppage time to snatch a draw.
The head-to-head between City and Harps is as one-sided as it gets, though. Cork City have won 16 of the last 24 meetings between the sides, drawing seven and losing just once. Harps' only victory came back in September 2019, and they have not won at Turner's Cross in the league since 2007.
That record, combined with City's home form this season, makes this likely to be very one-sided, but Robson will be wary of how much the Leesiders struggled to break down Harps away from home in their draw earlier in the season.
Despite having the bulk of possession and chances, they could not find a way through in Ballybofey.
“Obviously we've got a few suspensions,” Robson said. “We had big Rory Feely obviously injured here tonight, suspended, Kelleher is suspended, so it's been hard, we've been a bit patched up.
“But it's really important we keep winning the games and the boys have done that terrifically well and that's just by showing character and you can't ever go and have a really good season unless that's the type of things you need to do.
“You need to dig in at parts of the season,” he added. “We're going to have injuries, we're going to have illnesses and it's just about forcing your way over the line, which we did. First half we were pretty well dominant in the game and I think they did well maybe the last 15-20 minutes there, but credit to them.”
City’s injury list has grown in recent weeks, with Maguire, Fitzpatrick and Kiernan all out and Fiacre Kelleher is out for tonight’s clash after accumulating too many yellow cards, though that provided room for Donal O’Connor to make his debut on Monday.
“He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” Robson said. “We think a lot of him, and we threw him on there. He's a young kid who's making his way in the game and it's a big pressure situation to put him onto, and I thought he handled it well.”
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