LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Shamrock Rovers 3 Cork City 0FANS CAN be occasionally cruel but it's part of the game. As Cork City ran on to the field for last night's televised league clash at Tolka Park, they were greeted with chants of "Where's your money gone?"
The previous fortnight, City had dumped Rovers out of the FAI Cup and Rovers fans, still smarting from that 1-0 defeat, were keen to have their payback. And that they did as Pat Scully's men recorded their biggest win of the season.
It has been the worst week imaginable for Cork. Just 24 hours after being docked 10 points by the Football Association of Ireland licensing body after deciding to go into examinership, the Leesiders had a disastrous second half which was to see them reduced to 10 men, concede two quick goals along with seeing their centre half, Pat Sullivan, stretchered off with 20 minutes to go.
As for Rovers, the game marked Joseph Ndo's first goal for the club, his 36th-minute strike a wonderful effort and his first in the league since scoring for St Patrick's in March 2007.
Ndo's strike was followed in the second half by goals from Seán O'Connor and Eoin Doyle as Cork City capitulated in no uncertain terms to render the final 20 minutes meaningless.
The Leesiders, however, came close on 17 minutes with Colin Healy's free from outside the box tipped away at his left post by Michael Devine. From the resultant set piece, Cork skipper Dan Murray headed straight at the keeper while at the other end, Tadhg Purcell could do no better in the next attack.
Rovers took up the running after that and were duly rewarded for their efforts when Ndo took possession of the ball inside the box. With his back to goal, Ndo turned smartly before delivering a low shot into the keeper's bottom left-hand corner.
And the former PFAI player of the year almost doubled his tally moments later only for Murray to pull off a relieving tackle as Ndo attempted to steer in a shot at the near post.
Rovers reverted to the traditional 4-4-2 in the second half with Ndo joining Purcell up front and they duly doubled their lead on 56 minutes when a defensive slip allowed Seán O'Connor to convert into an empty net from the right-hand side of the box.
And as if things couldn't get any worse Cork were then reduced to 10 men on the hour when Joe Gamble was dismissed for a second yellow card. Moments later it was game set and match when Michael Devine failed to deal with Ndo's cross and there to pounce was Doyle from a central position on 63 minutes.
SHAMROCK ROVERS:Duggan: Madden, O'Brien, Maguire, Treacy; Doyle, Flynn, Ndo, D O'Connor, S O'Connor; Purcell. Subs: Amond for Ndo (77), Purcell for Creevy (82), Leech for Doyle (86).
CORK CITY:Devine: Horgan, Sullivan, Murray, Ryan; Lordan, Healy, Gamble, Kearney; Behan, Dudfield. Subs: Darren Murphy for Dudfield (64), Sullivan for Kelly (72), O'Connor for Kearney (76).
Referee:R Winter (Dublin)
