Cork City cruise past Finn Harps to win five in a row

Cork City 4 

Finn Harps 0 
Cork City could hardly have asked for a better send-off heading into the summer break. A dominant 4-0 win over Finn Harps at Turner's Cross on Friday evening extended their winning run to five and kept the gap at the top of the First Division at 12 points, with 2,471 watching on.

The visitors were under relentless pressure all evening, and that the Cork City lead was only a goal at the break gave Harps something to hold onto heading into the latter period. But Barry Robson's side were a different animal after the restart, scoring three second-half goals to run away with it.

“You've got to give the players credit. I mean, there tonight they were outstanding,” Robson said. “I'm not trying to be disrespectful for the other team, but I thought we could have really banged a few goals in there tonight.

“And we actually took our chances. I thought we looked so exciting from the first minute. And I think that's credit to the players, and especially having so many out.” Having struggled to get on much ball in the first half, City forward Hans Mpongo emerged as a real threat in the second, and was there to deal the second blow against his former club. His first opportunity was saved and the second chance was blasted over, but at the third time of asking, there would be no error.

Cillian Murphy stole possession before Joel Bradley-Walsh could gather it, and with Mpongo and AJ Bridge running along his left, Lorenzo Piaia had no chance facing three players.

In the end, Murphy squared for Mpongo who took it around Piaia and tapped into the open net with 54 minutes played.

The next goal arrived four minutes later as Mpongo set up Ruairi Keating, and while his shot was blocked, Bridge was there to latch onto the rebound and hack it into the top corner and seal the deal.

The fourth goal arrived in the 90th minute, Matthew Murray producing a brilliant tackle to win possession and race into the box, before serving it on a plate to Keating, which Piaia couldn’t keep out despite a touch.

Keating and Mpongo would have more chances late on as City pestered for a fifth, but four would prove to be more than enough.

City – already stripped of a hefty chunk of senior players – lost Harry Nevin in the seventh minute to injury, and so AJ Bridge was brought on as his replacement, leaving Niall O’Keeffe to drop back into the right back position.

“You've got to remember, that's Rory Feely, who would normally be a starter out. Big Fiacre, Kelleher, who would normally be a starter, who's out. Seani Maguire is out. [Josh] Fitzy, who's been playing all season, he gives you that energy, he's out,” Robson added. “And the players to come in and be doing what they're doing has been really pleasing. It’s been a tough few weeks, but I think there's been some really good performances.” 

City found their opening when Crowley’s forward pass was hooked back by Daniel De Lacerda, straight to Keating, who was in an offside position and through on goal, ready to pounce after De Lacerda’s mistake.

The City striker still had work to do, and cut back cleverly before curling it beyond Piaia in the 16th minute.

The hosts almost doubled their advantage immediately after, O’Keeffe weaving his way around a couple of defenders before unleashing a shot that came off the post.

Harps kept the damage to one goal heading in at the break, but it was still a troubling opening spell. They had only two chances in the opening period, both from Bernardo Monteiro, neither of which were powerful enough to threaten Conor Brann.

City would carve them open thrice more in the second half, cruising to victory.

CORK CITY (4-3-3): Brann; Nevin (Bridge 7 inj), Lyons, O’Connor, Drinan; Crowley, Bolger (Murray 62), O’Keeffe; Murphy (Fonseca 76), Keating, Mpongo.

FINN HARPS (4-1-4-1): Piaia; Cullen (Ajibola 70), Bradley-Walsh, De Lacerda (Hutchinson HT), Fanle; Brogan; McLaughlin, McNamee (McHugh 64), McAteer, Monteiro; Lumingo (McGranaghan 64).

Referee: M Patchell (Dublin)