Cork City FORAS Co-op  0 - 2  Waterford United

pics courtesy of the Blue Army Ultras

Waterford United somewhat ruined the party as they left Turner’s Cross with a full haul of points tonight. With the Cork football public turning out in huge numbers to get behind their new-look team, it was always going to be a spectacle, but the Blues travelled with their manager’s midweek words ringing in their ears. “This is not about FORAS, this is about Waterford United getting three points.”

The Blues made three changes to the side that won so convinvingly last weekend. And with the game delayed by ten minutes to allow the phenomenal crowd of just under 5000 to make their way into the ground, it was United who seemed to deal better with the occasion in the opening period. Only seven minutes in, superb work from Liam Kearney and Willie John Kiely allowed Gareth Cambridge a sight of goal, but his shot whistled just over the top. Moments later though, the home side were almost gifted an opener, as Chris Konopka’s attempted throw to the Blues’ right midfielder landed on the head of Davin O’Neill, but he couldn’t make anything of the opportunity.

That was to be the home side’s only chance of the half, and with the United midfield of Gary Dunphy and Paul McCarthy driving the visitors on, it wasn’t long before the scoring was opened. Vinny Sullivan was sent tumbling in the area by Eoin Forde as a right wing cross came in, and, as last weekend, Alan Carey stepped up to drive the spot kick down the middle. With Kevin Murray in imperious form at the back, the Blues comfortably saw the game out to the half time break.

Cork came out of the dressing rooms a much more determined side, and, pushing an extra man into attack, they quickly had the visitors on the back foot. Almost upon the restart Ian Turner had Konopka scurrying across goal to see his 30-yard effort wide, and minutes later Stephen Mulcahy saw his shot from a corner kick melee blocked away. But, pushing forward, they left themselves open to the counter attack, and on the hour mark that was exactly what transpired, as Sullivan finished a rapid breakout to make it 2-0 with a stunning strike, slamming home John Kearney’s pinpoint crossfield ball to the roof of the Cork net.

United went close once more on 73 minutes, when the Conna man deftly set Kiely up to almost cap a tidy performance, but he was marginally off target with his effort, and promptly made way for David Grincell, though in fairness that move had already been ordained. Cork continued to push forward, but left the Blues free to counter each time, and on 82 minutes Grincell was caught with a nasty elbow by Greg O’Halloran as he tried to break clear, resulting in a straight red card for the home player.

Grincell almost got on the scoresheet himself into injury time, as sub James O’Sullivan turned superbly and almost set up his young teammate, but it remained at 2-0, and in truth the Blues could be more than happy with that scoreline, and with the performance which was mature, assured, and very, very impressive.

Cork: Mark McNulty, Ian Turner, Dave Rogers, Stephen Mulcahy, Greg O’Halloran, Willie Heffernan (Dave Warren 86), Shane Duggan, Cillian Lordan, Eoin Forde, Davin O’Neill, Graham Cummins (Paul Deasy 66) - subs: Michael Devine, Padraig Clancy, John Dineen

Booked: Rogers, Heffernan

Sent Off: O’Halloran 82

Waterford: Chris Konopka; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, John Kearney; Gareth Cambridge (Timmy Purcell 77), Gary Dunphy, Paul McCarthy (James O’Sullivan 86), Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 73), Vinny Sullivan – subs: John Hayes, Kevin Waters

Goals: Carey 29 pen, Sullivan 60

Booked: L Kearney, Dunphy

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)

 with thanks to Adam Burke!