Ferocious City fight earns them three points

📷 KBD Photos

After a torrid two weeks for all involved in Cork City, they were looking to get back on track as they hosted John Caulfield’s Galway United at the Cross. With no wins in the Ger Nash era, City had a good chance to do so as the Tribesmen are out of form and look likely to fall into the playoff place. It has been a week of departures for City, as Milan Mbeng left for Shelbourne while Malik Dijksteel left for St Mirren.

Ger Nash made just the one change to the side that fell to a late defeat against Sligo, with the injured Cathal O’Sullivan being replaced by Alex Nolan.

Meanwhile, John Caulfield made six changes to the side that lost 4-2 to Waterford in Eamonn Deacy Park. Watts, Brouder, Cunningham, Borden, Bolger and Shaw all dropped out, with Clarke, Horgan, Buckley, Keohane, Hurley and McGuinness all coming in.

It was a flying start from the hosts and they took an early lead after just five minutes. Matty Kiernan picked up the ball inside Galway’s half and played the ball out left to Josh Fitzpatrick. Josh took on Esua before cutting inside on his right foot and bending a shot into the far right corner from twenty five yards to score his first League of Ireland goal and give his side that lead.

It was a scrappy game from here on out as City defended their one goal lead, but Galway came close to levelling the game in the eighteenth minute. A corner routine off the training ground troubled City as the corner was rolled low towards the edge of the box where Jimmy Keohane ran onto it and aimed his shot goalbound but it deflected off the head of teammate Ed McCarthy and narrowly missed the goal.

Galway kept the pressure on and City keeper Conor Brann was called into action five minutes later to keep City's lead intact. Jimmy Keohane laid the ball off to Jeannot Esua deep down the right hand side with Esua whipping a dangerous ball into the City box. Stephen Walsh ran in and sent a powerful header goalward and forced a brilliant reaction save from Conor Brann to deny Galway an equaliser.

Brann once again had to keep the game level in the fortieth minute. Jimmy Keohane swung in a free kick which landed on the head of Colm Horgan who flicked a header towards goal, but once again Brann dove and kept the effort out.

That would be that for the first half as City had the upper hand in what was a very dogged opening forty five.

Galway struggled to find their feet early on in the second half and it was in the seventy first minute where they had their first proper chance of the second half. A long ball into the box went towards Patrick Hickey who headed the ball off of Rory Feely. Hickey picked up the loose ball and dragged a shot across goal, but his effort whistled past the far post

The City backline were putting their bodies on the line to defend their lead, but Galway continued to push and almost found their much needed goal with three minutes to play. Aaron Bolger floated the ball onto the box where it was knocked down by Patrick Hickey. Walsh caught the knock down on the volley but his shot went flying over the bar from close range.

The visitors had their final chance at a goal in the ninth minute of additional time. A long throw from Cillain Brouder was flicked on at the front post by Patrick Hickey. The ball fell to the feet of Stephen Walsh who got a shot away but it was blocked. The loose ball went to David Hurley who had his own effort but once again the solid City defence blocked it.

And that would be the last action of the game as City secured their first win and second clean sheet under Ger Nash to give a glimmer of hope to the Rebel Army. It wasn't a game for a neutral as naturally with both sides out of form, it was more of a dogfight between the two sides, with City coming out on top. The effort of the players can't be questioned as they dug in and fought for all 99 minutes of the match. This is a result that City fans will hope can kick the team on into pulling off a late escape.

My man of the match goes to Josh Fitzpatrick. Both Conor Brann and Evan McLaughlin came very close, but as I said before, the main quality from City during the game was the energy and effort, and that was encapsulated in the performance of Josh Fitzpatrick. Not only did he score the goal that won CIty the game, but his defensive contributions during the game grabbed my attention as he won the ball back in his own defensive third several times.

City will hope to bring this win into next week where they travel to the Brandywell to take on Derry City. As for Galway, they'll host Shamrock Rovers in Eamonn Deacy Park.