Dundalk slump to third straight league defeat away to Cork City

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division 

Cork City 1-0 Dundalk

Struggling Dundalk FC suffered a third successive SSE Airtricity League defeat on Easter Monday, as they were beaten 1-0 by second-from-bottom Cork City at Turner’s Cross.

A game of few chances at either end was ultimately settled on 38 minutes, when Cian Murphy raced through on goal before sliding the ball underneath Nathan Shepperd.

Before that, Cork had chances through Cian Bargary, who fired over; while an Ally Gilchrist header from a Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh cross was only inches wide of the mark.

The Leesiders should have made it 2-0 right on the stroke of half-time, only for the intervention of Greg Sloggett, who hacked away from Cian Coleman’s cross into the box.

Cork had more opportunities in the second half through Bargary, who put one over the top, and Jonas Hakkinen, whose volley from outside the box was miles off the target.

It took 72 minutes for Dundalk to take their first shot of the match, and that effort came through winger Rayhaan Tulloch, who curled inches wide of Jimmy Corcoran’s post.

Tulloch had another attempt go into the side-netting moments later, while substitute Patrick Hoban fired over late on to sum up what was a terrible day at the office.

Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Josh Honohan, Jonas Hakkinen, Ally Gilchrist, Kevin Custovic; Cian Coleman, Aaron Bolger, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Barry Coffey 69); Cian Murphy (Ethon Varian 78), Ruairi Keating, Cian Bargary (Darragh Crowley 71)

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Andy Boyle, Robbie McCourt (Patrick Hoban 72); Greg Sloggett, Alfie Lewis (Keith Ward 57); Johannes Yli-Kokko (Ryan O’Kane 57), Connor Malley, Rayhaan Tulloch; Daniel Kelly (John Martin HT)

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)

Attendance: 3,674