Cork City recorded their highest league win in years tonight after an emphatic 5-0 win over Finn Harps. Tommy Dunne’s men now lie at the top of the First Division table and are still unbeaten after 7 games.
The City boss made only one change from last week’s team that beat Waterford United, Derek O’Brien forced out through injury and replaced with Vinny Sullivan. Former City midfielder Conor O’Grady lined out for Harps, and it was he who had the first chance at goal, but his long distance shot flew over the bar.
It wasn’t long before City look the lead, and after fifteen minutes Graham Cummins found the net. The City number nine took the ball into the box, effortlessly ran past Paddy McLaughlin and fired a left-footed shot into the goal from a tight angle.
Not before long City doubled their lead, this time Davin O’Neill offering Cummins a helping hand. O’Neill crossed from the left, and after Harps failed to clear, the ball dropped to Cummins on the edge of the box and he made no mistake, finding the back of the net through a crowded penalty area.
The home side went in at the break 2-0 up and coasting, with Harps providing little threat at Mark McNulty’s goal. Kevin McHugh seemed to be the only danger for Harps, his shot had McNulty scrambling but the City ‘keeper eventually cleared.
After the hour mark it was effectively game over. Davin O’Neill went on a brilliant run down the left, and curled a beautiful shot into the bottom corner from about 20 yards out.
Substitute Keith Cowan came very close to pegging one back for Harps, his header whistling just past the upright. Frenchman Vincent Escudé-Candau came on a substitute late on and notched his first goal of the season. Gearóid Morrissey was impressive all night and slipped him in one on one with the goalkeeper and he made no mistake to make it four.
It was one disaster after the next for the away side, with Cowan taking down Cummins in the box to give City a penalty in the dying stages. Cummins stepped up and secured his hat-trick with aplomb, driving the ball down the middle of the goal.
Up next for City is a tricky away trip to Drom to face Salthill Devon.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: Mark McNulty; Neal Horgan, Kalen Spillane, Gavin Kavanagh, Danny Murphy; Davin O’Neill (Ian Turner, 83mins), Shane Duggan, Greg O’Halloran (Vincent Escude-Candau, 56mins), Gearoid Morrissey; Graham Cummins (Timmy Kiely, 83mins), Vinny Sullivan.
Substitutes: Vincent Escudé-Candau for O’Halloran (56mins), Ian Turner for O’Neill (83mins), Timmy Kiely for Cummins (83mins). Subs not used: Kieran Kenneally, James McCarthy, Rory Morrissey, Simon Holland.
Finn Harps
Starting Line-Up: Ciaran Gallagher; James Doherty, Packie Mailey, Paddy McLaughlin, Ciaran Coll (Gary Whoriskey, 26mins); Mark Forker, Conor O’Grady, Tommy Bonner, Gareth Harkin; Kevin McHugh, Oisin McMenamin.
Substitutes: Gary Whoriskey for Coll (26mins), Chris Connaghton for Bonner (69mins), Keith Cowan for McMenamin (69mins). Subs not used: Aaron O’Hagan, Chris Patton, Gary Merritt.
Referee: John Grimes.
Attendance: 2,044.
Photos: Click Here.
