Rovers 0 Cork City 1

Hoops FAI Cup tale of woe continues...

A disappointing night for Rovers as despite a good first half display they eventually were undone by a fine Behan strike on 56 minutes. The Hoops started well and played some nice football early on with Rice threading a lovely ball to O'Brien in the area but Devine in the Cork goal took his low cross well. O'Flynn had the first effort for the visitors on 9 minutes but Murphy saved comfortably.

A Sean O'Connor corner was punched away by Devine on 10 minutes and a minute later some good work by Amond almost got Doyle in behind the defence. The Hoops had their best chance of the game in the 18th minute when Rice dispossessed a defender and sent Doyle on a run into the box. The Hoops striker coolly angled his strike around Devine but unfortunately the ball hit the post and Amond just failed to meet the rebound.

Cork hit back on 28 minutes when a Horgan free-kick needed a fine diving save from Barry Murphy. A mis-placed Murphy clearance two minutes later saw a cross into the box for O'Flynn but he couldn't get his effort on target. After some Hoops pressure on the half-hour the visitors broke quickly and Kearney fired a low shot that Murphy gathered at the second attempt. O'Brien sent a free-kick into the Cork box for Price to knock on but Doyle couldn't connect with the ball.

Cork's best chance came in the 37th minute when Price missed a cross and Behan's header set-up O'Flynn in front of goal but Murphy advanced to block a certain goal. Cork finished the half with Behan diving to send a header just wide.

Two minutes into the second-half Tadhg Purcell did well to win possession and send Amond away on the right hand side of the area. The Carlow man rushed his shot to send the ball high and wide. The Leesiders took the lead on 56 minutes when a deep cross found Behan unmarked and he fired a volley low past Murphy into the net. Rovers worked hard to break down the Cork defence and Maguires long ball almost put Amond in on goal but he couldn't control the ball. A minute later a good exchange of passes saw Amond fire a low shot that Devine got down well to save. Sean O'Connor found Amond on the right on 66 minutes but his low cross was behind Doyle.

The Cork defence were happy to soak up any pressure and hit the Hoops on the counter attack and Healy almost grabbed a second goal but Murphy made a fine save to deny the Cork midfielder on 75 minutes. Kearney then went on a run into the Hoops area a minute later but fired his shot just wide. The visitors ability to close down the play made it difficult for Rovers to create any openings and they relied on high balls into the area. With eight minutes remaining O'Brien launched a couple of crosses into the box but the Cork defence held firm. Devine then punched away another cross before Murray made a vital interception to again cut out a ball into the area.

Despite the pressure the visitors were content to defend the high balls and although the Hoops were working hard to break through the Cork defence they needed a bit of luck in front of goal that unfortunately never materialised. Ger O'Briens last ditch free-kick into the area in the 92nd minute finally fell to Devine and with it went the Hoops chance of glory in 2008.