City U19s beaten 4-0 by Bray Wanderers
BRAY WANDERERS U19…………………………..4
CORK CITY U19……………………………………..0
SOCCER
Daire Walsh
AT the Academy Wayside on on Saturday afternoon, Cork City U19s lost heavily defeat to Bray Wanderers in the SSE Airtricity League Southern Elite Division.
Cork were hoping for their first league win since July 9, and had the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock six minutes into the contest.
Referee, Robert Dowling, pointed to the spot, after Cian Murphy was dragged down in the box by Calvin Rodgers. But Ross Welch’s penalty (as well as his effort from the rebound) was saved by Bray goalkeeper, Malachy Doyle.
Cork then breathed a sigh of relief when Seagulls winger, Dion Agbonze, fired over from close-range in the 20th minute.
Denzil Fernandes and Cian Bargary also forced Doyle into action as the half developed, but Cork couldn’t break the deadlock.
A right-footed strike by Fernandes was turned behind by Doyle, three minutes into the second period, but Bray ultimately broke the deadlock.
Luke Rossiter’s 51st-minute strike took a massive deflection en route to goal, and drifted beyond the reach of unfortunate Cork goalkeeper, Ian Giltinan.
This was a hammer blow for City, and though they attempted to work their way back into the reckoning, they were facing into a two-goal deficit with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Jamie Ahearne’s 25-yard free-kick was blocked by Cork’s defensive wall, but when the ball dropped back at his feet, he found the top right-hand corner of the net with a superb curling finish.
The visitors were now left with a mountain to climb, and Joe Heaney and Rory Doyle were both introduced from the bench to add fresh impetus to their attack.
However, Bray placed the outcome beyond doubt, when Rossiter turned home an Agbonze delivery, and a fourth goal arrived through Ahearne, in the 84th-minute.
Murphy and Fernandes both hit the woodwork in the closing stages, as Cork gallantly fought for a consolation goal, but with Waterford United and Limerick set to meet this evening, they remain in the top-four for the time being.
BRAY WANDERERS: Malachy Doyle; Shane Heffernan, Calvin Rodgers, Jack Whelan, Dylan O’Connor; Luke Rossiter, Gavin Howard (Stephen Morley 84); Luke Clucas (David Gilskenan 32), Jamie Ahearne, Dion Agbonze; Cormac Kelly.
CORK CITY: Ian Giltinan; Dylan Scott, Adam O’Sullivan, Thomas O’Donovan, Ronan Hurley; Brian Mulcahy (Joe Heaney 72); Denzil Fernandes, Pierce Philips, Ross Welch (Rory Doyle 72), Cian Bargary; Cian Murphy.
Referee: Robert Dowling.