A new season, a new striker and a new mascot were all on offer on this Friday night as Cork City overcame Wexford Youths by a single goal to take all three points at Turner’s Cross.
Tommy Dunne introduced two new faces to his starting eleven, with Frenchman Vincent Escudé-Candau and Vinny Sullivan make their debuts. It would begin Sullivan’s second stint in a City shirt, and he got this episode of his career off to a flyer.
Early on it was Graham Cummins who showed the biggest threat, he got on the end of O’Halloran’s cross to head just wide of the post. Moments later he bursted down the right wing and cut in on goal only to drive the ball straight at Youths’ goalkeeper Packie Holden. The City number nine could have had a hat-trick in the first half alone, but due to top-class goalkeeping and perhaps it being the first game of the season, Cummins couldn’t find the back of the net.
Just before the break City took the lead. Man of the match Gearóid Morrissey was the main man in the build-up, crossing for Cummins who nodded the ball into Sullivan’s path and he made no mistake from close range to fire City into the lead.
The goal seem to put an all ready down-and-out Wexford Youths side into a bigger depression as they failed tomuster any sort of challenge after half time.
City’s goalscorer Sullivan should have found the net again shortly after the restart, sending his chip just wide of the post, and then heading the ball inches over the bar after an excellent ball from Morrissey. For the rest of the game, City’s newest signing, the Cheetah mascot proved to be the biggest entertainer as neither side created any openings and the game fizzled out.
Kalen Spillane was dismissed in injury time for a second bookable offence, but Youths’ Danny Furlong wasted the opportunity and sent the ball over the stand and onto the Curragh Road.
Next up for the Leesiders is an away trip against Mervue United where Dunne’s men will look to earn another important three points and keep the momentum going.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: McNulty, D.Murphy, O’Halloran, Morrissey, O’Neill, Cummins, Sullivan, Spillane, Kavanagh, Horgan, Escudé- Candau.
Substitutes: Duggan for Sullivan (67mins), Kiely for Escudé-Candau (73mins). Subs not used: Turner, McCarthy, Kenneally, J.Murphy, Holland.
Wexford Youths
Starting Line-Up: Holden, Keogh, Kehoe, Russell, Wolfe, Wall, Ryan, Yelverton, Furlong, Mullen, Nolan.
Substitutes: Malone for Mullen (63mins), Grincell for Ryan (76mins), Cream for Yelverton (76mins). Subs not used: McCurtin, Walshe.
Referee: S.Templeman.
Official Attendance: 2149.
Picture: Brian Quillinan/bqimages.net
