Cork City maintained their position in the top two of the Airtricity First Division tonight after a convincing 2-0 win over Athlone Town.
Danny Murphy returned from suspension, replacing Neal Horgan. while Vinny Sullivan regained his place in the starting eleven in place of Gearóid Morrissey who dropped to the bench due to injury.
The Leesiders took the lead early on in familiar fashion. Vinny Sullivan provided the cross from the right, Graham Cummins chested the ball down and converted from 8 yards to add to his already impressive goal tally. Athlone offered little in terms of attack, with City comfortable for the remainder of the half. With the away side missing a number of first team players, it looked as if damage limitation was their main tactic.
The closest Athlone came to scoring was through Bobby Tier, but he lost control of the ball and was forced wide with the chance going astray.
Goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann was kept busy throughout, and before the break he did well to get a hand to Cummins deft flick which was heading to the bottom corner.
Derek O’Brien was a thorn in Athlone’s side on the left wing, and had an effort just wide of the post just after the restart. Cummins doubled City’s lead and scored his 13th of the season shortly after. Jamie Carr’s tame back-pass was latched onto by Cummins, and he made no mistake, finishing into the bottom corner with his left-foot.
Vincent Escudé-Candau has given Tommy Dunne a selection headache as of late, and had a couple of chances to score himself. He shot narrowly over on both occasions, when on another night he could have had a brace himself.
Shane Duggan had the best opportunity of the second half, some great interplay between himself, Escudé-Candau and Cummins saw the Limerick man jink his way through on goal. His shot was off-target however and the third goal never arrived.
Paul Danaher was dismissed in injury time for a second yellow card when he dragged down Cummins as he headed goal wards for a hat-trick.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: Mark McNulty; Stephen Mulcahy, Gavin Kavanagh, Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Vincent Escudé-Candau, Greg O’Halloran, Shane Duggan, Derek O’Brien; Vinny Sullivan, Graham Cummins.
Substitutions: Danny Morrissey for Escudé-Candau (85mins). Subs not used: Ian Turner, Gearóid Morrissey, James McCarthy, Jamie Murphy, Neal Horgan, Eoin McGreevy.
Athlone Town
Starting Line-Up: Michael Schlingerman; Declan Fallon, Mark Walsh, Paul Danaher, Jamie Carr; Stephen Relihan, Kevin Williamson, Bobby Tier, Eoin Monaghan, Tommy Barrett; Noel McGee.
Substitutions: Kevin Dunne for Tier (46mins), Ronan Stack for Monaghan (74mins), Kevin Horan for Relihan (74mins). Subs not used: Alex Gardiner, Scott Gaynor.
Referee: Stuart Templeman (Kerry).
Official Attendance: 2046.
