(Setanta Cup) Cork City 1 Shelbourne 0: Cork City jumped to the head of the Group Two table on the back of a brilliant goal by Denis Behan on 60 minutes. Referee David Malcolm showed yellow cards to seven players and two straight reds to Cork's Joe Gamble and Shelbourne's David Crawley at Turner's Cross last night.
Shelbourne were surprisingly negative in the opening half. They repeatedly pulled nine players behind the ball when they lost possession and, in consequence, their attack force of Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne received very little service.
Cork strikers Denis Behan and Kevin Doyle presented the Shelbourne defence with more problems, even if they never forced Steve Williams into action. The only threat to his goal came in the 42nd minute when Dave Rogers conceded a free just outside the penalty area. George O'Callaghan took the free quickly but Behan made a poor attempt at a header and the ball bounced into Williams' hands.
Jason Byrne produced the only shot in anger at the Cork goal in the 35th minute when he volleyed a shot over Michael Devine's crossbar.
Shelbourne's lack of progress was illustrated in the 64th minute when Crowe was withdrawn and Jamie Harris, more recognised as a centre-back, was brought in to add some weight to the attack.
By then Shels were struggling to save the game after Behan's magnificent goal in the 60th minute. The goal came from a misplaced clearance by Rogers that was picked up in central midfield by O'Callaghan. He fed the ball through to Doyle and his lay-back was driven to the net.
Shelbourne had a lucky escape in the 64th minute when a free from O'Callaghan was headed into the net by Alan Bennett but the referee whistled for offside.
Cork were always comfortable and the post-match conversation revolved around the performance of referee Malcolm who showed red cards to Gamble after a clash with Harris in the 84th minute. Crawley was dismissed after a clash with O'Callaghan.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; Woods, Gamble, O 'Callaghan, Kearney; Behan (Fenn 80), Doyle (O'Halloran 86).
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Hawkins, Rogers, Crawley; Baker, S Byrne (Cawley 78), Moore, Cahill (Hoolahan 71); Crowe (Harris 64), J Byrne.
Referee: D Malcolm (N Ireland).
