Soccer

Cork City and Shamrock Rovers fall further behind

Few goal chances and none converted as Dundalk extend lead

Shamrock Rovers’ Gary McCabe and John Kavanagh of Cork City after the scoreless game at Turner’s Cross. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho.
Shamrock Rovers’ Gary McCabe and John Kavanagh of Cork City after the scoreless game at Turner’s Cross. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho.
Fri May 22 2015 - 22:21

Cork City 0
Dundalk 0

Premier Division leaders Dundalk will have been the happiest after a scoreless draw at Turner's Cross.

With only the leaders having a better defensive record, goals were never likely to be overly plentiful and so it proved.

By and large, it was a pedestrian affair, with the first-half in particular lacking what might be expected of a meeting between second and third, though Rovers may claim mitigation in a late arrival due to a motorway crash which necessitated kick-off being delayed by 15 minutes.

Apart from a low Brandon Miele shot for Rovers which Mark McNulty almost allowed to slip through his grasp, the chance of goals always looked remote though Michael Drennan did shoot into the City side-netting shortly before half-time.

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Increase in intensity

The second-half, in front of a crowd of 4,138, brought an increase in intensity but the incidences of goalmouth action didn’t markedly increase.

Again, Rovers looked likeliest to get the opener and on 54 minutes it took a good Darren Dennehy block to deny Rovers right-back Simon Madden, who had got forward well.

Just before the hour, Dennehy had City’s best chance but, after Mark O’Sullivan cushioned the ball back to him from his brother Billy’s corner, the centre-back headed straight at Craig Hyland.

Shortly after that, the home fans felt they had a penalty shout when O'Sullivan looked to be held by Simon Madden and late substitute Garry Buckley saw his header hit the top of the bar and go over from a Colin Healy free-kick, but it finished goalless.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Kavanagh, Murray, D Dennehy, O'Connor; Healy, Miller; B Dennehy (Gaynor, 80 mins), Holohan (Buckley, 65 mins), Sheppard (Lehane, 81 mins); O'Sullivan.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Hyland; Madden, Kenna, Blanchard, Byrne; Cregg, Fahey; G Brennan, R Brennan (McCabe, 86 mins), Miele; Drennan (Waters, 77 mins).
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).