Cork City and Monaghan United kept both their unbeaten records intact after a 2-2 draw at Turner’s Cross.
The Leesiders had to come from behind twice to somehow take a point from the game. Former Cork City boss Roddy Collins, who only managed the club for a matter of weeks, returned intent on ending Tommy Dunne’s excellent start to the season.
The away side got off to a flyer, with Declan O’Brien scoring the opener. Shane Grims provided the cross, and the former Drogheda striker powered home a header past Mark McNulty and into the back of the net. O’Brien’s elaborate celebration with his manager riled up the home crowd even further, adding to the raucous atmosphere at the ‘Cross.
Dunne’s men reacted brilliantly, and should have equalised within minutes but Shane Duggan could only shoot straight at Gabriel Sava. It was only a matter of time though before the Rebel Army were on level terms, last year’s top goalscorer Graham Cummins got on the end of Gearóid Morrissey’s excellent ball into the box and he nodded the ball home to make it 1-1. City ended the first half brightly, with Sava doing well to keep out efforts from Derek O’Brien and Morrissey.
Both sides exchanged chances at either end, Eric Foley shooting narrowly wide from distance, and Cummins heading off-target from a great position.
Mons took the lead again midway through the second half. Seán Brennan crossed from a corner, and O’Brien was unmarked to score yet another header and give his side a great chance of taking all three points. It was not to be however, and Cork City again drew level in the dying stages of the game. Davin O’Neill terrorised the Mons’ defence all night, and to cap an excellent night he scored the equaliser. His shot from the edge fo the box took a massive deflection and Sava could do nothing to keep it out. 2-2 was how it finished, in what was by far the most exciting game at Turner’s Cross this season.
City keep their unbeaten run going, with a trip to the RSC to player Waterford United up next Friday night.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Gearoid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Greg O’Halloran, Derek O’Brien (Vinny Sullivan, 77mins); Davin O’Neill, Graham Cummins.
Substitutes: Sullivan for O’Brien (77mins). Subs not used: Ian Turner, Timmy Kiely, James McCarthy, Kieran Keneally, Jamie Murphy, Vincent Escude-Candau.
Monaghan United
Starting Line-Up: Gabriel Sava; Conor McMahon, Dave Rogers, Shane Grimes; Shane Fitzgerald, Eric Foley, Ryan Brennan, John Reilly, Jason Marks; Declan O’Brien, Sean Brennan.
Substitutes: Philip Byrne for McMahon (46mins), Michael Isichei for Fitzgerald (57mins). Subs not used: Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Loughran, Jake Rossiter, Andy Haran, Don Tierney.
Referee: Jim McKell.
Attendance: 2004.
Photos: Click Here.
