A second home defeat in 7 days means Cork City crash out of the FAI Ford Cup for 2010, as Monaghan United advance to the quarter-finals stage with a 1-0 win at Turner’s Cross.
Tommy Dunne made two changes to his starting eleven from last week. Neal Horgan player at centre-back in place of Gavin Kavanagh, while Graham Cummins returned from suspension in place of Gearóid Morrissey.
There was a slow start to the game, with Monaghan looking most likely to score in the opening stages. Philly Hughes was an ever-present threat, and came close after ten minutes with a 20-yard strike that Mark McNulty did well to parry away for a corner-kick. Hughes came close again moments later when he got on the end of Aidan Collins’ cross but he headed just wide.
Billy Woods forced a save from Gabriel Sava with a speculative volley from distance, but the Monaghan shot stopped was always comfortable. Cummins saw his shot fly narrowly over the bar, and Davin O’Neill had a great chance with a head from O’Callaghan’s cross but he headed wide.
Philly Hughes always looked likely to breaking the deadlock, and did so in the 31st minute. He powered through the City defense after a long ball from the back, and coolly slotted the ball past McNulty to give his side the lead.
The goal seemed to stifle the City attack for the remainder of the half, however O’Callaghan did get an opportunity just before half time, but he couldn’t direct his header on goal after a great ball in from O’Neill.
City improved their attacking prowess after the restart, Shane Barrett making Sava work to deny an equaliser. Their best chance to level matters came just after the hour. O’Neill broke through but shot straight at Sava who had rushed from his line, the rebound fell to Barrett but his effort was cleared off the line by Brian Gartland. After some lovely football again from the home side, Woods set Cummins away on the left, but his left foot cross just eluded the leaping O’Neill.
Substitute Gearóid Morrissey was to have the Leesider’s last chance on goal deep into injury time, his long range strike looked headed for the top corner, but just went narrowly over and onto the roof of the net.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: McNulty; Turner, O’Halloran, Horgan, Woods; O’Neill, Duggan, Lordan, O’Callaghan, Barrett, Cummins.
Substitutions: Cambridge for Barrett (82mins), Morrissey for O’Callaghan (82mins). Subs not used: Deasy, Keneally, Dent, Piechnik, Holland.
Monaghan United
Starting Line-Up: Sava; Collins, McMahon, Gartland, Grimes; O’Connor, Byrne, Tierney, Clancy; Bermingham, Hughes.
Substitutions: McCrossan for Tierney (27mins), Brennan for O’Connor (76mins), Hanaphy for Bermingham (86mins). Subs not used: Costigan, Quirke, Clarke, McEnteer.
Referee: G.Kelly (Cork).
Official Attendance: 1,317
FAI Ford Man of the Match: Philly Hughes.
