There were signs of progress for Cork City at Belfield on Monday night. City had lost to UCD at the Dublin 4 venue just over a month ago. But the 1-0 victory is a second win over the Students in 11 days, a third league win since John Cotter took over
There were signs of progress for Cork City at Belfield on Monday night. City had lost to UCD at the Dublin 4 venue just over a month ago. But the 1-0 victory is a second win over the Students in 11 days, a third league win since John Cotter took over as interim manager at the start of the month, and it moves the 2017 champions into the top half of the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League. Cotter tells our reporter Peter Branigan that keeping clean sheets have been the most important thing since he arrived. ‘That’s everyone involved in that, the whole lot of them,’ according to Cotter. ‘They worked so hard. Even at the end, Garry Comerford making a block at the edge of the box. ‘After coming up here four or five weeks ago, losing the game 2-1... the lads showed great character over the last few weeks, and hopefully that’s something to build on. ‘Tonight was a massive win, to be fair, after losing last Friday night. It was important that we came up here, and bounced back properly. It’s the players that deserve the credit. They’re the ones that are out on the pitch digging, and I thought they dug out a great win tonight.’ The game was open, with both sides going close to breaking the deadlock before the goal finally arrived in the 73rd minute. Karl Sheppard’s looping header was tipped onto the bar by College keeper Conor Kearns. But Cian Bargary followed up to get to the rebound before Liam Scales, and poke the ball home from close range. It was a first League of Ireland appearance for the 18 year-old, and it took the Tipperary-native just six minutes to score his first senior goal. ‘It’s what you want from subs, and particularly young fellas; a bit of enthusiasm,’ according to Cotter. ‘He was brave going in for the rebound, and he deserved his goal. He’s a lad whose come through our academy, and they’ve done great work with him over the years. ‘Colin (Healy, Head of the Cork City academy) would speak highly of him. ‘It’s just unfortunate that he won’t be in full-time until he’s finished his Leaving Cert. He has to get his studies done, and that’s the main thing for him at the moment. ‘But it’s great to see him score there tonight. It’s brilliant for the whole club that someone comes through the academy and pops up with a great winner. ‘He’s one for the future, we’ve great hope for him here.’
