FAI SENIOR CUP FINAL
CORK CITY 1
DUNDALK 1
(Cork City won 5-3 on penalties)
By Daire Walsh
Mark McNulty and Kieran Sadlier were the penalty shoot-out heroes for Cork City at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as John Caulfield’s league champions held tight to secure a domestic double under dramatic circumstances.
Dundalk looked set to claim their second cup success of the year when Niclas Vemmelund headed them in front on 95 minutes, but after substitute Achille Campion replied with a smart finish, City kept their composure from 12 yards to edge past their Co Louth counterparts.
This was the third year in succession that the two teams were facing each other in the principle cup decider, and after Dundalk were denied a domestic double by the Leesiders in last year’s final, they were hoping to do the same to the newly-crowned Premier Division champions on this occasion.
A comprehensive triumph over Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sports Cup showpiece meant that Dundalk already had a trophy to their name in 2017, which further enhanced the remarkable success they have enjoyed under Stephen Kenny.
Including their Leinster Senior Cup and FAI President’s Cup victories in 2017, they have won eight trophies during the Dubliners time in Oriel Park. In the three years that they were consecutive league winners (2014-16), City were Dundalk’s main challengers, and their dramatic extra-time success 12 months ago was a major stepping stone for the club.
Seani Maguire was the match-winner in last year’s finale, and the goals he scored prior to his summer move to English Championship outfit Preston North End effectively gave Cork an unassailable lead at the summit of the top-flight table.
Excellent form by Dundalk (as well as some indifferent displays by City) made the title race that bit more interesting in the closing weeks of the season, but with their first league crown in all of 12 years in the bag, their focus was now on retaining their cup title.
They set themselves up in a similar fashion to Dundalk, with Karl Sheppard (who had started the campaign in a wide position) leading the line for City – just ahead of Gearoid Morrissey. Patrick McEleney was also playing a familiar role in behind Lilywhites striker David McMillan, but it was winger Jamie McGrath who had the first opportunity of the contest on eight minutes.
His low shot from a right-hand angle was tipped away by City netminder Mark McNulty, who was the subject of criticism from Kenny because of recent comments that were attributed to him. There has been a lot of focus on the quality of the Cork attack since Maguire’s departure, but a flicked effort from Sheppard was saved by the feet of Gary Rogers from close-range.
Dundalk were spreading the ball out to the wings as much as they could, and Michael Duffy posed a significant threat when he managed to gain control of possession. Yet, Cork were also having their moments in the final-third, and the persistence of Stephen Dooley almost produced a deadlock-breaking score in the 18th-minute.
After breaking his way into the Dundalk box, his firm right-footed drive was turned away by Rogers, and he was also on hand to save Sheppard’s subsequent rebound. Dundalk and Cork have developed a strong rivalry in recent years, and it came as little surprise that there were some flashpoints throughout the course of the proceedings.
After climbing high to claim a City set-piece, Rogers bumped into opposition skipper Alan Bennett, who was more than happy to let the Dundalk number one know that he was willing to stand his ground.
He was perhaps fortunate that referee Paul McLaughlin decided not to caution him for brushing the shoulder of Rogers, but it was the shotstopper at the opposite end of the field who was next pressed into action.
Duffy cut inside from the left-wing to unleash a powerful strike, and after McNulty parried his effort, a follow-up shot by Robbie Benson drifted past the target. As the half wore on, clear-cut chances were at a premium for the two sides, and they remained inseparable at the midway stage.
The past two finals have failed to produce a winner in normal time, and though City came under pressure from a goalmouth scramble three minutes into the second half, they eventually cleared the ball to safety.
Both defences were keeping a tight rein on the opposing attacks, and although Garry Buckley discovered some space inside the Dundalk half just past the hour mark, Rogers made another comfortable save at his right-hand side.
A hanging cross from McGrath was perfectly weighted into the path of Benson at the far end, but despite getting a good connection in the air, McNulty smothered the ball with relative ease. There were some edgy moments for McNulty from a series of Dundalk set-pieces, but to the disapproval of the Dundalk fans behind his goal, he was adjudged to have been fouled on each occasion that he didn’t win possession cleanly.
Moving into the final-quarter, Dundalk were largely in control of possession, and the fresh legs of substitute Dylan Connolly gave the City rearguard something to think about. However, despite looking like they had settled for extra-time, the Turner’s Cross men almost stole a win right at the death.
With just under two minutes of stoppage-time gone, Dooley lofted a dangerous cross into the Dundalk area, and after the ball ricocheted off Morrissey, Rogers acrobatically clawed the ball away from the target.
This intervention by the Meath man ensured that 30 additional minutes were needed in order for a winner to emerge from this showcase event. It took until the very end of extra-time for an opening goal in the 2015 and 2016 finals, but in the latest saga between these sides, five minutes was all that was needed.
A Duffy free-kick from the right-wing was expertly delivered into the City box, and centre-half Vemmelund climbed above a series of bodies to head beyond the reach of McNulty. This threw down the gauntlet to City, and they responded by introducing Campion and Greg Bolger for Garry Buckley and Morrissey respectively.
They were left with a limited amount of time to make an impact, and Cork couldn’t address their one-goal deficit by the midway point in extra-time. Dundalk were always going to protect what they had from this stage, however, and a speculative effort from distance by Sadlier floated just past the Dundalk goal.
This was a warning sign for Dundalk, though, and they let their advantage slip away with all of 111 minutes gone on the clock. A clever through-ball by Sheppard beat the offside trap, and in spite of the best efforts from Rogers, Campion fired home off his left-foot.
With the sides now on level terms, it seemed like even 120 minutes of football wouldn’t produce a winner and loser from this contest. Cork had designs on securing the spoils before penalties, but after two minutes of injury-time were played at the end of the extra-time, it was spot-kicks that ultimately determined the destination of the silverware.
Both teams held their nerves initially, as Sheppard, Bolger and Conor McCormack finishes were matched by McMillan, Stephen O’Donnell and Benson for Dundalk. Yet, after Cork right-back Steven Beattie smashed home his side’s fourth effort from the spot, McNulty saved from Duffy to put City on the brink of back-to-back triumphs.
There was considerable pressure on the shoulders of Sadlier, but he sent the Cork City faithful onto cloud nine with a cool strike to the corner of the net.
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland (Sean Hoare 91), Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey; Stephen O’Donnell, Robbie Benson; Jamie McGrath (Dylan Connolly 71), Patrick McEleney (John Mountney 108), Michael Duffy; David McMillan.
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Chris Shields, Shane Grimes, Thomas Stewart.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie, Alan Bennett, Ryan Delaney, Shane Griffin; Conor McCormack, Garry Buckley (Achille Campion 98); Jimmy Keohane (Kieran Sadlier 58), Gearoid Morrissey (Greg Bolger 98), Stephen Dooley; Karl Sheppard.
Subs not used: Alan Smith, Connor Ellis, Conor McCarthy, Robbie Williams.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.