MATCH REPORT

FINN HARPS 0:1 CORK CITY

Date: Saturday, August 19th, 2000
Competition: eircom League, Premier Division
Venue: Ballybofey

Result: Finn Harps 0:1 Cork City
Half-time: 0-0
Kick-off: 7.15pm
Scorers: Colin O'Brien, 52mins
City team: Mooney; Horgan, Delaney, Daly, Napier, O'Brien, Cahill, Flanagan, Herrick, Morley, Caulfield. Subs: Cotter for Morley (45 mins), Freyne for Flanagan (74 mins), O'Donoghue for Napier (85 mins).
Report: (The Examiner) On Saturday night in Ballybofey, City bagged full points for the second week in succession without ever really impressing. This victory keeps them joint top with Bray Wanderers.
As was the case last week against St. Patrick's Athletic, one goal did the trick with midfielder Colin O'Brien finding the target on 52 minutes.
This win will be a big boost for City as they look forward to the UEFA Cup second leg clash against Lausanne Sports of Switzerland later this week. City, with home advantage now, must have a great chance of turning around the one-nil deficit.
Derek Mountfield pointed out that the long trip back to Cork from Donegal was far easier having beaten Harps. He added, "it also keeps us in the right frame of mind for the Lausanne game."
Pat Morley took a knock and had to be replaced by John Cotter at the interval but nobody else picked up any injury. Meanwhile, Finn Harps boss Gavin Dykes was bitterly disappointed with the outcome. "Cork were better early on but over the 90 minutes we had the bulk of the scoring opportunities," he noted. City goalkeeper Noel Mooney had mixed fortunes, making a number of errors but then redeeming himself with a couple of excellent saves. Just before the end of a lacklustre first half, Mooney flapped at a cross and Declan Daly ended up blocking a shot from Paddy McGrenaghan near the post.
But in the closing stages, with City leading, Mooney went full stretch to stop a thundering low drive from Jonathan Minnock. He also made a great reflex save to deny James Mulligan from point blank range.
O'Brien's match-winning goal was, without doubt, the highlight of a tight contest. Veteran striker John Caulfield tore down the left flank and easily skipped passed defender Declan Boyle before firing in his cross.
O'Brien came charging in and smacked the ball home from inside the six yard area.
Mountfield could well afford to smile. The best is yet to come from City.

Report: The Examiner [www.examiner.ie]

FINN HARPS: Downey, O'Hanlon, Minnock, Boyle, Bradley, Tierney, McGrenaghan, Mohan, Mulligan, Nesovic, Harkin, Subs: Kenny for Harkin (69 mins), Speak for McGrenaghan (85 mins).
CORK CITY: Mooney, Horgan, Delaney, Daly, Napier, O'Brien, Cahill, Flanigan, Herrick, Morley, Caulfield, Subs: Cotter for Morley (45 mins), Freyne for Flanigan (74 mins), O'Donoghue for Napier (85 mins).
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin)

A goal in the 52nd minute from Colin O'Brien was enough to secure all three points for Cork City on Saturday night and condemn Finn Harps to their second defeat of the season.

The home side had the best chance of a very low-key first half when Paddy McGrenaghan's shot was hacked off the line in the 45th minute by Stephen Napier.

There was a much brighter start to the second half and Gareth Downey had to be at his best to tip away a fierce shot from Cork City's Ollie Cahill in the 48th minute.

Four minutes later Cork City made the breakthrough when John Caulfield beat Declan Boyle and sent in a cross that O'Brien rifled home from six yards.

Five minutes later, Noel Mooney made a terrific stop to keep Cork City ahead and he managed to get a touch on James Mulligan's header in the 60th minute to again deny Finn Harps. The home side pressed forward at every opportunity for the rest of the match but could find no way through, as Cork City clung on.