City denied victory at the death by Rovers
U19 SOCCER
SHAMROCK ROVERS U19………………………….2
CORK CITY U19……………………………………….2
Daire Walsh
THERE was frustration for Cork City at the Tallaght Stadium on Saturday afternoon, when an 87th-minute goal from Shamrock Rovers striker Michael O’Connor cruelly denied them victory in the SSE Airtricity League U19 Southern Elite Division.
O’Connor was on the scoresheet for the Hoops’ first team in their 3-1 win over Cork the night before, and the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when a powerful early drive from his frontline partner Dean Dillon smashed the woodwork.
The 26th-minute withdrawal of Pierce Phillips was a subsequent set-back for a City side that remain in contention for a play-off spot, but eight minutes after his introduction, substitute Cian Murphy sensationally fired the visitors into the lead.
The pacy attacker embarked on an outstanding run on the left-flank, and found the far corner of the Rovers net with an unstoppable strike. This was a massive boost for the visitors, but straight from the restart, Hoops front man O’Connor restored parity with a magnificent finish on the turn.
It was certainly a blow for Cork to concede so soon after breaking the deadlock, but with the sides on level terms upon the resumption, there was still a chance for them to claim their seventh league triumph of 2017.
Winger Denzil Fernandes headed just past the post from a Dylan Scott free-kick on the left-hand side, and from an enticing cross by Fernandes, a Jordan O’Regan effort was blocked by the Rovers defence.
Cian Bargary also broke into the box at a left-hand angle on 65 minutes, but before he was able to pull the trigger, Hoops netminder Gavin Bazoona was able to divert the ball away from danger.
With 19 minutes remaining on the clock, City netminder Dave Coffey produced an excellent point-blank save from Dillon, and with this looked set to be a significant turning point – as City found themselves back in front on 73 minutes.
A dangerous set-piece delivery from full-back Ronan Hurley was deflected past Bazoona by helpless Rovers defender Conor Gleeson, but just when City had maximum points in their sights, O’Connor neat flick over the advancing Coffey meant they had to settle for a sharing of the spoils.
SHAMROCK ROVERS U19: Gavin Bazoona; Conor Fitzharris, Sean Callan, Cian Collins, Conor Gleeson; Evan White, Harry Cornally; Emmanuel Lawal (Josh Hogan 75), Dean Dillon, James Doona (Luke Kiely 89); Michael O’Connor.
CORK CITY U19: Dave Coffey; Brian Mulcahy, Tomas O’Donovan, Adam O’Sullivan, Ronan Hurley; Pierce Phillips (Cian Murphy 26), Rory Doyle, Dylan Scott (Nathan Manson Browne 87); Denzil Fernandes, Jordan O’Regan (Keith White 81), Cian Bargary.
Referee: Mark Moynihan.