Dramatic late goal sees Dundalk head into mid season break with a win

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

Cork City 1-2 Dundalk

John Martin’s 85th-minute winner has put Dundalk FC firmly back into the European picture, after they recorded a 2-1 win over Cork City at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.

A game of two halves, Cork deservedly led through Ruairi Keating, only for Ryan O’Kane to equalise direct from a corner shortly before half-time, but it was Martin’s late goal that puts The Lilywhites to within three points of a guaranteed place in Europe next season.

The first chance of the evening fell Dundalk’s way, with an O’Kane low corner from the right being met by Patrick Hoban before Jimmy Corcoran got down to save the effort.

Archie Davies then had a free-kick go up and over, while at the opposite end, Keating hooked a shot across the face of goal, before Cork broke the deadlock in the 20th minute.

Matt Healy found Kevin Custovic, whose ball was turned home from close range by Keating, although Dundalk defender Louie Annesley may have gotten the final touch.

Darragh Leahy fired an effort miles off the intended target as Dundalk sought a quick leveller, but they could have easily found themselves 2-0 down shortly before half-time.

Healy’s cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by Dundalk, with Tunde Owolabi forcing Nathan Shepperd into a point-blank save before he gathered once again on the rebound.

Dundalk had another lucky escape when Healy curled wide of Shepperd’s post, but it was The Lilywhites who equalised in the most unlikeliest of circumstances on 44 minutes.

O’Kane’s whipped corner from the right somehow flew all the way into the Cork goal, offering Stephen O’Donnell’s side a brand-new lease of life coming into the second half.

Despite dominating possession, The Lilywhites didn’t really create much in the way of chances, with Rayhaan Tulloch blazing over the top, while O’Kane almost scored another direct from a corner, before Cameron Elliott’s header was easily gathered by Corcoran.

However, The Lilywhites won it on 85 minutes, as O’Kane’s cross was eventually headed home by substitute Martin to set his team up nicely ahead of the mid-season break.

Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Josh Honohan, Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist; Kevin Custovic, Barry Coffey (Cian Bargary 81), Matt Healy, Aaron Bolger, John O’Donovan (Daniel Krezic 82); Tunde Owolabi (Cian Murphy 84), Ruairi Keating

Subs not used: Daniel Moynihan (gk), Gordon Walker, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Josh Fitzpatrick, Eanna Fitzgerald, Colin Henderson

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Andy Boyle, Louie Annesley, Darragh Leahy; Daniel Kelly (Rayhaan Tulloch 58), Greg Sloggett, Johannes Yli-Kokko (Connor Malley 58), Ryan O’Kane (Paul Doyle 89); Cameron Elliott (John Martin 77), Patrick Hoban

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mark Byrne (gk), Hayden Muller, Keith Ward, Wasiri Williams

Referee: Robert Hennessy (Dublin)

Attendance: 3,815