Sport

Behan goal gives Cork some respite

Shamrock Rovers 0 Cork City 1 HOLDERS CORK City prevailed in this fourth-round tie at Tolka Park last night with Denis Behan…

Sat Aug 16 2008 - 01:00

Shamrock Rovers 0 Cork City 1HOLDERS CORK City prevailed in this fourth-round tie at Tolka Park last night with Denis Behan's 56th minute goal separating the two teams in the end.

While City's financial plight has been well documented this week, they were nonetheless keen to return to winning ways having surrendered a 10-game unbeaten league run to Bohemians at Turner's Cross last week. But they were forced to take the field without the suspended Dave Mooney, who is their top scorer.

In Mooney's place came John O'Flynn, who was making his first team start since injuring his ankle against Finn Harps last month. The former Irish under-21 international return however did not last long as he hobbled off the field shortly before half-time.

After a tentative opening, Rovers almost went ahead on 20 minutes after Colin Healy had been dispossessed in midfield. Stephen Rice then released Eoin Doyle down the left and once inside the box, Doyle placed a low shot across Michael Devine only for the post to come to Cork's rescue. And then on 25 minutes, Denis Behan played in O'Flynn but Barry Murphy did well to deflect O'Flynn's shot around the post.

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Cork, encouraged by that, continued to press and after O'Flynn had been upended just outside the box, Neil Horgan forced Murphy to go down low to his right.

Following that O'Flynn had a shot parried by the goalkeeper on 37 minutes and then, to finish the half, Behan's diving header off Neal Horgan's cross just cleared the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

The second half was two minutes old when Rovers striker Pádraig Amond raced clear only to blaze wide from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

The game entered something of a lull after that before Behan volleyed low beyond Murphy at the far post after Danny Murphy had sent over a cross from the left.

Rovers had a chance to draw level shortly afterwards but the off form Amond could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper after been played in by Danny O'Connor on 63 minutes.

SHAMROCK ROVERS:Murphy; O'Brien, Maguire, Price, Madden; Purcell, D O'Connor, Rice, S O'Connor; Doyle (Creevy, 77), Amond.

CORK CITY:Devine; Horgan, Sullivan, Murray, Danny Murphy; Darren Murphy (Lordan, 23), Gamble, Healy, Kearney (Ryan, 90); Behan, O'Flynn (Duffield, 41).

Referee:D McKeon (Dublin).