City snatch late win in the Munster Derby

📷 KBD Photos

City were fresh off of their fourth loss on the bounce after a late goal from James McManus saw them lose 1-0 to Bohs in Dalymount Park on Friday night. They were looking to break their losing streak on Easter Monday as they hosted Waterford at the Cross. Waterford were on a six game losing streak of their own, so one team's streak had to end.

City’s lineup announcement included a new face, Dutch striker Djenairo Daniels. The signing of Daniels was announced by the club an hour before kick off. He was one of two changes the side that lost in Dublin, with himself and Greg Bolger coming into the side to replace Freddie Anderson and Kitt Nelson. 

Waterford made three changes from their 4-0 hammering to Sligo. Backboord, Boyle and McMenamy all made way for Burke, Leahy and White.

It was the hosts who had the first big chance of the game just four minutes in. Sean Murray picked up the ball in midfield and drove forward before sliding it through to Cathal O’Sullivan down the left channel. Cathal ran through on goal but sent his shot flying over the bar.

The first half was fairly uneventful for the most part with both teams playing fairly poorly. But that being said, City were creating slightly better chances and went close in the thirty third minute. Benny Couto received the ball from a throw-in from the left hand side before whipping the ball to the front post where Sean Murray dove to head it, but his header went the wrong side of the front post.

City again came agonisingly close in added time in the first half. Charlie Lyons dinked a brilliant ball over the top of the defence where he found the run of Cathal O’Sullivan. Cathal beared down on goal but perhaps chose to shoot a slight bit early and Stephen McMullan was able to keep his shot out.

Both teams went into half time at a deadlock, with both sides having below average halves of football from each side.

Waterford came out of the break fast and managed to take the lead in the fifty third minute. Conan Noonan battled hard down the line and cut it back to the penalty spot where he found Tommy Lonergan who put the ball into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead.

City began to struggle going forward as Waterford sat back, and despite this it was Waterford who almost found the next goal of the game five minutes later. Waterford broke away on a counter and slipped the ball into the left channel to Ryan Burke, who flashed a first time shot that whistled past the far post.

The game was very tense from then on with Waterford sitting in and the hosts struggling to create a goal scoring opportunity.

That was, until a minute left in normal time. Rio Shipston and Cathal O’Sullivan played a brilliant one-two down the left hand side, with the latter getting down to the byline. Cathal dinked a ball into the box but was then taken out by the sliding tackle of Navajo Bakboord, winning a penalty. After a long delay thanks to the attempted gamesmanship of Waterford players, Evan McLaughlin stepped up and smashed the ball down the middle to level the game.

From seeming to be out of ideas, City were back in the game and despite the lack of chances, they had one more chance up their sleeve. In the sixth minute of additional time, Rio Shipston knocked a long ball down the right hand side. Cathal and Kitt Nelson battled hard to win the ball over Radkowski and Cathal burst down to the byline and cut it back to the oncoming Kitt Nelson, who stretched to shoot first time with his left foot and sent the ball flying into the top left corner to send the entirety of Turner’s Cross (apart from the away section) into pandemonium.

Waterford won a free kick deep into added time. City cleared it away but the ball fell to Olayinka at the edge of the box who powered a first time shot against the crossbar, much to the shock of the Waterford fans behind the goal.

Ultimately, Waterford wouldn't get another chance and Cork City would take the three points home after a dramatic ending. City weren't amazing to be transparent. Neither team was impressive and the quality of the game was poor for the majority of the match. CIty were the better side in the first half but really struggled to break Waterford down once they sat deep in the second half. All in all though, all that matters is that City came away with the three points and sent their muster rivals’ fans back down the road.

As for Waterford, they were very poor in the first half and didn't look threatening to CIty. They had a solid spell in the first ten minutes of the second half where they found their goal. They kept a fairly unthreatening CIty team out for the majority of the second half but they just couldn't hold on and gave up the three points.

My man of the match goes to Cathal O’Sullivan. Cathal was a shining light in the City attack throughout the game. He was constantly creating danger and despite those two misses in the first half, he created both goals and was ultimately the difference maker in this match.

City will be hoping to take this momentum into the second of their two must win games as they take on Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds on Saturday night. As for Waterford, they face the tough journey up North as they take on Derry City in the Brandywell