First-half goals pave way for Cork City
Daire Walsh
UCD ……………………………………… 1
CORK CITY ……………………………… 2
FIRST-HALF goals from Ronan Hurley and Cian Leonard were crucial in Belfield yesterday, when Cork City increased their lead at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League U17 Southern Elite Division with a hard-earned victory over UCD.
Cork were aiming to stretch their unbeaten league run to 19 games, and Paul Bowdren’s visitors broke the deadlock on 13 minutes.
When the ball fell to left-back Hurley at a tight-angle, he unleashed an unstoppable curling shot into the top right-hand corner.
This provided Cork with a strong platform against the south Dublin outfit, and they doubled their lead on the stroke of 20 minutes – as Leonard’s looping header from a free-kick by captain Ronan Hennessy was too strong for helpless UCD netminder Finn McGowan.
UCD forced their way back into contention seven minutes with a neat finish by Farrugia – in spite of the best efforts of Hogan. A free-kick by UCD midfielder Jack Ryan after the restart kept Cork on their toes.
Ciaran Couch was introduced in place of Cork right-back Brian Mulcahy, but even though he hit the post from a James Fitzgerald set-piece, offside had been signalled before his effort on goal.
A powerful drive by Fitzgerald also tested McGowan in the 74th-minute, but despite coming under pressure from the determined hosts in the closing moments, Cork claimed all three points.
UCD U17: Finn McGowan; Evan Farrell, Dan Mullen, Luke Boore, Dylan Rowe; Brandon Perry (Ryan Meaney 75), Jack Ryan, Luka Lovic, Neil Farrugia; Sean McDonald, Sean Quinn (Yaya Camara 75).
CORK CITY U17: Conor Hogan; Brian Mulcahy (Ciaran Couch half-time), Thomas O’Donovan, Mark Brosnan, Ronan Hurley; Dale Holland (Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh 83), Ronan Hennessy, James Fitzgerald (Brian Lynch 89), Douwe Van Sinderen; Cian Murphy (Rory Doyle 35), Cian Leonard.
Referee: Robert Kearns (Dublin).