Cork City’s promotion hopes took a turn for the worst tonight at Tolka Park after a crushing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Shelbourne.
The loss sees the Leesiders 6 points off the promotion spots, with second placed Monaghan United to visit Turner’s Cross next Saturday.
The home side took the lead mere moments after kick off. David Cassidy played a ball over the City defence to Marc Hughes, and he made no mistake finishing past Mark McNulty. Tommy Dunne was forced into making an early change, Greg O’Halloran going down with injury. Cillian Lordan moved to centre-back with George O’Callaghan coming off the bench.
After two half chances for City, Ray Scully blasted over from a good position for the hosts. City could have levelled it just before half time, but two miraculous saved from Dean Delaney denied the equaliser.
Shelbourne doubled their lead not long after the restart. A cross from a free kick was headed by Stephen Paisley towards goal, with Ian Ryan getting the final touch. Graham Cummins came close with a cross-come-shot late in the second half, and again with a headed effort but City failed to breakdown the Shels rear-guard.
Shelbourne
Starting Line-Up: Delaney, Quigley, Byrne, Ryan, Paisley, Shiels, McGill, Cassidy, Farrell, Hughes, Scully.
Substitutions: Leech for Hughes (68mins), O’Brien for Quigley (85mins), Foley for Cassidy (90mins). Subs not used: Whelan, Williams
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: McNulty, Turner, O’Halloran, O’Neill, Duggan, Cummins, Lordan, Woods, Cambridge, Kavanagh, Barrett.
Substitutions: O’Callaghan for O’Halloran (13mins), Lougheed for Woods (72mins). Subs not used: Paul Deasy, Ian O’Sullivan, Kalen Spillane
Referee: Jim McKell.
Attendance: 912
