Cork City's second choice goalkeeper Mark McNulty performed heroically to help Cork reach the final with a spirited win over Shelbourne before 5,500 spectators at Turner's Cross last night.
McNulty, in for the injured regular goalkeeper Michael Devine, included a penalty save from Jason Byrne amongst his collection of outstanding saves. By qualifying for the final they made sure of at least a pay-off of €100,000 with an extra €50,000 to follow if they win the competition.
Shelbourne made six changes from the weekend defeat of Waterford - two of them enforced. Colin Hawkins was suspended, and goalkeeper Steve Williams was ruled out by illness. Owen Heary and Dave Rogers returned after suspension.
Cork showed four changes and three of them were enforced. Goalkeeper Michael Devine faces surgery today on a knee injury while John O'Flynn was suffering from a pulled hamstring. Roy O'Donovan was ruled out by suspension and Alan Bennett came back after injury to displace Cillian Lordan.
Shelbourne settled much more quickly and Cork were lucky to survive the opening half-hour when Shels created and spurned a succession of scoring chances. Good fortune and a number of desperate last-minute challenges helped Cork survive.
Jason Byrne was through on goal, but was overtaken and had the ball knocked off his toe by Danny Murphy's late lunge in the seventh minute. Stuart Byrne ran clear on to Jason Byrne's delicate pass three minutes later and was robbed by goalkeeper Mark McNulty's timely challenge. There was a sharp edge to the contest and when Cork's George O'Callaghan was booked in the 11th minute for a late challenge on Jim Crawford, the Shelbourne was man was lucky to escape punishment when he raised his hand to his opponent.
Cork surprised Shels when they scored in what was virtually their first worthwhile attack of the half after 34 minutes. Neal Horgan was heavily involved, taking Neale Fenn's return pass and driving past David Crawley's tackle. He fed Colin O'Brien who then broke through Jamie Harris' tackle and scored from six yards.
Shelbourne controlled a frantic contest in central midfield where Stuart Byrne and Jim Crawford dominated Joe Gamble and George O'Callaghan. Shels rolled forward in numbers to maintain the pressure on the Cork defence and goalkeeper McNulty was forced to make a superb save two minutes into added time when he stretched to touch Stuart Byrne's explosive left-foot shot from 25 yards over the bar.
Shelbourne lost the best scoring chance of the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute. Colin O'Brien was penalised for taking down Stuart Byrne, but goalkeeper McNulty turned aside Jason Byrne's penalty shot.
Cork continued to grow in confidence and their two strikers combined to set up a second goal in the 62nd minute. Denis Behan challenged hard for a high ball in the Shels penalty area and when the ball fell Fenn was there to take it on his chest before guiding a left-foot shot past Delaney from six yards.
Shelbourne tried to get back into the game, but Cork were resolute and Shelbourne's disappointment was complete when Dave Crawley was sent off when he pulled back Billy Woods as he raced clear.
Shelbourne will play Lithuania opponents, most likely FK Vetra, in the first round of the InterToto Cup, the draw for which was made in Switzerland yesterday.
Shelbourne are away in the first leg on June 17th/18th with the return at Tolka Park a week later. Should they get through, they will meet a club, as yet unknown, from Denmark. If they progress further they are then likely to face a Scottish side.
CORK CITY: McNulty; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Brien, Gamble, O'Callaghan Woods; Fenn (Softic 87), Behan.
SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Heary, Harris, Rogers, Crawley; Baker (Ryan 13), S. Byrne, Crawford, Cahill (Kearney 73); Crowe, J. Byrne.
Referee: D Malcolm (Bangor).
