LEAGUE OF IRELAND: Cork City 1 Galway Utd 0CORK CITY extended their unbeaten run to six league games at Turner's Cross last night courtesy of a 1-0 win over Galway United.
Billy Dennehy’s goal was all that separated the sides at full-time, and although Cork took their foot off the pedal in the second half, they were full value for their victory.
Cork manager Paul Doolin made one change to his side from last weekend’s 2-1 win over Dundalk, with Faz Kuduzovic replacing Guntars Silagailis in attack. Galway came into the game on the back of a 3-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers, and they had to plan without on-loan midfielder Seán Kelly, with the terms of his loan deal forbidding him from lining out against his parent club.
Cian McBrien and Alan Murphy were also left out, so Galway manager Ian Foster opted for a fresh midfield trio of Michael McGrath, David Cooke and John Russell.
Cork began the game brightly, with Dennehy and Dan Murray both squandering good early chances. The home side made the breakthrough in the 17th minute, however, after some good work down the right by Kuduzovic.
The Bosnian attacker teed up Billy Dennehy at the far post and he made no mistake from close range. Joe Gamble came close to doubling Cork’s advantage in the 32nd minute but his right-footed strike from just inside the box was brilliantly saved by Barry Ryan.
Shane Duggan and Denis Behan failed to convert further opportunities for the Leesiders in a first half which Galway failed to threaten Dan Connor in the Cork goal.
Galway threw caution to the wind after the interval, with lone striker Vinny Faherty going close twice in the early stages of the second half. An audacious over-head kick went narrowly wide of the post in the 49th minute, before Connor saved well to deny the 21-year-old moments later.
Barry Ryan came to the rescue for Galway again in the 75th minute, diverting a Denis Behan effort away to safety.
Galway did exert some late pressure in their search for an equaliser but failed to carve out an opening, as Cork hung on for a win that sees them move into second place in the table.
CORK CITY: Connor; Sullivan, O'Halloran, Murray, Murphy; Gamble, Healy, Duggan; Kuduzovic, Behan, Dennehy.
GALWAY UNITED: Ryan; Conneely, Guthrie, Breen, Davoren; O'Shea, McGrath, Cooke, Russell (Edwards 73 mins), O'Brien (Molloy, 87 mins); Faherty.
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).
