National League/Cork City 2 Shelbourne 1: A classic 30-yard free-kick from George O'Callaghan set Cork City on the road to victory over Shelbourne in a passionate eircom League, Premier Division tie before an estimated 5,000 fans at Turner's Cross last night.
Cork had to come from behind to win after conceding a first-half penalty goal but they did so with style and energy.
O'Callaghan was a huge influence on the game and Shelbourne struggled to contained him in midfield. His skill on the ball and accurate use of it made him a difficult opponent and in a match where the yellow card count of four gave some indication of the competitive nature of the contest, he was superb.
Indeed, had Cork taken advantage of a couple of late scoring opportunities that fell their way, as a desperate Shelbourne threw more and more players forward, they would have won more convincingly.
Cork always looked the more likely side apart from a brief period after they had dominated the opening half but they achieved relatively little. They found Shelbourne's physical defence difficult to penetrate and it was Shelbourne who looked the more dangerous from much less possession.
Cork played the more attractive football, working off a solid base in midfield where Colin O'Brien, O'Callaghan and Joe Gamble had control of the trend of the game but apart from the clever work of Neale Fenn they caused Shelbourne few problems up front.
Shelbourne took the lead in the 40th minute from the spot. Jason Byrne ran clear on to a return pass from Liam Kearney and after he flicked the ball past goalkeeper Devine, he tumbled under the goalkeeper's challenge.
Jason Byrne converted the penalty with Michael Devine getting a hand to the ball but failing to keep it out.
Cork stepped up their game and their response was magnificent. Greg O'Halloran was penalised for a tackle on Colin O'Brien 30 yards from goal in the 44th minute.
O'Callaghan's strike from the resultant free on the right of the penalty area flew powerfully into the net off Dean Delaney's out-stretched hand.
Cork grabbed the winner in the 49th minute. Cillian Lordan won possession by flicking a ball over the head of Ollie Cahill on the half-way line and threaded a pass into the path of Roy O'Donovan who knocked the ball sideways for Neale Fenn to volley it into the empty net from 10 yards.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan (Lordan 21), Bennett, Murray, Woods; O'Donovan, O'Brien, O'Callaghan, Gamble; Fenn (Behan 79), O'Flynn.
SHELBOURNE: Delaney; Heary, Hawkins, Dillon (Baker 80), Rogers; Kearney, S Byrne, O'Halloran (Reynolds 45), Cahill; J Byrne, O'Neill (Crowe 60).
Referee: D. Hancock (Dublin).
