Rovers 3 Cork City 0

Cork outdone by the Joseph Ndo show...

Cork City FC may be on the ropes right now but they began this game in confident style and were on top for the first 20 minutes. A Horgan volley from a quick throw-in on six minutes was blocked by Treacy and the visitors were knocking the ball around with confidence. On 17 minutes a Healy free-kick just outside the area went through the wall and a fine reflex save from Duggan prevented a goal. From the corner Murray rose highest but Duggan was well placed to save.

The Hoops first chance came in the 21st minute when Purcell turned well on the edge of the area but shot straight at Devine. A great pass from O'Brien was well taken by Ndo but his cross was blocked. A harsh offside against Purcell in the 26th minute denied the Hoops a chance but it was Joseph Ndo who stood out for Rovers with some good play in midfield. The game had entered a stagnant period when in the 37th minute Doyle's cross was cleared to Danny O'Connor who hooked the ball into the area for Ndo to brilliantly fend off Murray before blasting the ball past the hapless Devine from close range.

Purcell setup Sean O'Connor just two minutes later but his attempted lob went well over. Duggan took a low Kearney cross in the 41st minute before Maguire led a counter-attack and fed Ndo who then received a back-heel pass from Purcell but unfortunately his shot was blocked.

Rovers started the second-half well and Purcell got behind the Cork defence just after the break but a defender got back to block. Joseph Ndo then started to turn on the style on 48 minutes when making space to send in a cross that had Devine scrambling to clear. A good run from Dudfield saw Danny O'Connor on hand to clear the danger after 52 minutes and a minute later Duggan made a fine catch from a good cross. The visitors were well in the game at this stage but things started to unravel in the 56th minute.

Ndo played a through ball that was too long for Sean O'Connor but Devine made a hash of his clearance and O'Connor squeezed his shot between Devine and the post to give the Hoops a two goal advantage. Two reckless challenges from Gamble saw the Irish international receive his marching orders on the hour. To compound matters for Cork Joseph Ndo went on another brilliant run to send in a cross that was half-cleared only for Doyle to smash home the Hoops third.

The Hoops were totally in control now and Purcell elected to shoot on 68 minutes when Flynn was better placed in the area. Sullivan got behind the Rovers defence on 70 minutes but Duggan saved his shot however Sullivan was injured and unfortunately had to be stretchered-off.

Flynn and Treacy combined in the 79th minute to cross to Amond but he couldn't get his shot on goal. After 83 minutes a deep Sean O'Connor cross was just missed at the back-post by Amond. A rare mistake by O'Brien let Behan in on goal but the Cork striker rushed his effort and sent the ball wide of Duggans right-hand post. The last chance came when Doyle raided down the left but he couldn't find Amond in the box.