Cork City secured second place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a battling scoreless away 0-0 draw against Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium. Experienced midfielder Gearoid Morrissey was introduced as a second half substitute
Cork City secured second place in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a battling scoreless away 0-0 draw against Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium.
Experienced midfielder Gearoid Morrissey was introduced as a second half substitute and the ex-Cambridge United man was influential in ensuring the 2017 Champions left Dublin with a creditable draw, having fielded a relatively inexperienced side.
“I think the boys did very well in the first half to stay in the game and make it difficult to break us down and limit Rovers in their chances. I thought the young lads were fantastic tonight,” said Morrissey afterwards.
“We came into it more in the second half.” Whilst one would agree with that assessment, Morrissey’s tongue was surely in his cheek when he made the following assertion. “We probably had the better chances, maybe.” The dominant Rovers side would undoubtedly dispute that one!
Their defence of their Irish Daily Mail Cup clearly lay heavily on the Leesiders’ minds. “We’re just concentrating what we need to do. Tonight was a great game for the lads who haven’t played and for the lads who needed a rest. In preparation for Monday’s game it was excellent. It puts us in good stead going forward.”
Cork City are seeking to win the Cup for the third successive year and Morrissey feels the scale of the achievement of retaining the Blue Riband last year should not be underestimated.
“It’s unbelievably difficult to do it. There’s a massive amount of graft that goes into it in the weeks leading up to it - juggling it (the Cup) between league games.
"You’re up against teams that are giving everything to beat you. It’s really hell for leather when you play. We’ve a bit of work to do over the weekend – get a few training sessions in and tear into it again on Monday (against Bohemians).”
