Cork City are top of the Airtricity First Division for one day at least after a 1-1 draw with Longford Town.
Youngster Jamie Murphy was the hero for City, scoring his first goal for the club in the dying stages of the game to give City a vital point.
Greg O’Halloran passed a late fitness test ahead of the game and started in midfield, while Derek O’Brien didn’t feature due to a recurring injury. Austin Skelly scored the opening goal of the game for “De Town”, scoring one of the best goals seen at the ‘Cross all season. He took control of the ball 20 yards out, and curled a beautiful effort into the top corner of the net. City goalkeeper James McCarthy had no chance.
Vinny Sullivan had a great chance to equalise shortly after Skelly’s strike. A slack back-pass let the City striker in on goal, but his touched force him too wide and the chance went astray. Longford took a step back, comfortable with their one-goal lead. Davin O’Neill and Graham Cummins both had strikes at goal, first O’Neill firing wide, and Cummins coming agonisingly close with a curling shot late on in the half.
Paul Hunt was definitely the busier of the two goalkeeper’s, and he pulled off an amazing double save to deny O’Neill just before the break.
City upped the tempo further in the second half. Greg O’Halloran shot wide from Gearóid Morrissey’s corner, and Cummins again threatened with a header but he couldn’t keep it on target.
Almost everyone in the stadium thought City should have had a penalty just after the hour, Morrissey looked to be chopped down in the box, but referee Phil Caschera waved play on.
As it looked likely that the Leesider’s unbeaten run was about to end, substitute Jamie Murphy popped up with the equaliser. Gavin Kavanagh crossed from the right, and Murphy was on hand at the back post to head home, sending the home crowd into raptures.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: Mark McNulty; Ian Turner, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Davin O’Neill, Greg O’Halloran, Shane Duggan, Gearoid Morrissey; Vinny Sullivan (Timmy Kiely, 71mins), Graham Cummins.
Substitutions: Vincent Escudé-Candau for O’Halloran (59mins), Jamie Murphy for Turner (86mins). Subs not used: Stephen Mulcahy, Peter Krzanowski, Rory Morrissey.
Longford Town
Starting Line-Up: Paul Hunt; Neil O’Reilly, Des Hope, Chris Deans, Gary Cronin; Keith Gillespie (Cathal Brady, 62mins), Thomas Hyland, Mark Salmon, Jacques Morley (Aidan Roche, 71mins); Austin Skelly, Lee Roche (Jason Oladele, 54mins).
Substitutions: Cathal Brady for Gillespie (62mins), Jason Oladele for Roche (54mins), Aidan Roche for Morley (71mins). Subs not used: Paddy Collins, Craig Walsh, Alvin Rouse, Danny O’Reilly.
Referee: Phil Caschera.
Official Attendance: 2075.
Photos: Click Here.
