Latest news with #ConorMcCormack
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Galway deepen Cork City's relegation worries with late winner
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 2 (Moses Dyer 48, Conor McCormack 85) Cork City 1 (Djanairo Daniels 52 pen) Late goals are sinking Cork City deep into relegation trouble and the pain was deepened by former player Conor McCormack swelling the gap for safety to 11 points. John Caulfield is another City link at Galway and he'll be relieved to end a four-match losing sequence with a win that could have been denied after Moses Dyer's ninth goal of the season was cancelled by a penalty from City's Djanairo Daniels. Next week's visit of champions Shelbourne marks the midway point of the season for City and new boss Ger Nash will know the return of two wins so far must be turbocharged to avoid a third drop in five years. Nash abseiled straight into managerial mode last Friday against St Patrick's Athletic, straight off a connecting flight from Sweden. Yet rather than just deliver the interval team-talk he did then, this was his first official game at the helm. Preparations began last Saturday morning at Bishopstown and there was a newness to the shape of his team. Gone was his predecessor's back-five formation, with Milan Mbeng and Darragh Crowley operating as the full backs. The newcomer wasn't afraid to make the bold calls in-game either, hauling off Freddie Anderson after one too many lapses by the young defender approaching the hour mark. Introducing left-back Matt Kiernan necessitated a reshuffle that a first full week of training convinced him was doable. It takes a mean defence to repel Galway's barrage of catapults into the box, both from play and especially deadballs, and the wild western weather contributed to a tenth-minute delivery holding up in the wind. Ed McCarthy latched onto the stray ball but the ex-Cork City winger squirted his shot past the near post. Ditto Dyer later on 38 minutes when a hospital pass by Rio Shipston to Sean Murray was intercepted and recycled to the edge of the area. Another of the City alumni, Garry Buckley, forced the only save of the half from Tein Troost – connecting with David Hurley's free-kick – yet Galway were the team fortunate to be level at the break. Cathal O'Sullivan has been the glimmer of light in this testing season for the Rebels, the teenager seamlessly stepping up on his debut Premier Division season. As has been the case against the best teams in the country, the nippy winger was a menace, drifting into channels undetected and producing killer passes at will. An absurd booking incurred on 11 minutes for shooting after he'd been harshly penalised for a foul didn't curb his influence but he was guilty of squandering the best chance on the stroke of half-time. Galway's characteristic intuition eluded them from a long ball, allowing O'Sullivan to bend his run in behind and flick the ball past the advancing goalkeeper Evan Watts. All he had to do was stroke the ball into the net but the brawn and experience of former Ireland international Greg Cunningham was enough to force him to skew the effort inches wide. Seáni Maguire looked on from the sideline relishing such a chance and in what seemed a pre-planned move was introduced in place of Shipston. Such is his history of injuries that a cautious approach is being applied but Dyer was the striker to make the most immediate impact within three minutes. Cunningham's pass still left the league's top scorer with work to do but he dribbled past Anderson into the six-yard box and his cross deflected off the Stoke City loanee to loop over Troost and trickle beyond the goal-line. Along came another goal another three minutes later and it was a controversial one through a penalty decision. Referee Mark Houlihan deemed that Josh Fitzpatrick's cross struck the arm of Jeannot Esua, enabling Daniels – who'd drilled a first half chance wide – to send Watts the wrong way. Three points were there for the taking but Galway showed their intent when both Cian Byrne and Cunningham glanced headers wide two minutes apart. Esua would get the chance to atone for his concession by raiding down the right, past Leaving Cert student Kiernan, and his cross was laid back for McCormack to smash a shot from eight yards through a thicket of players past Troost. Another relegation playoff is certain barring a major upturn in the second half of the season. GALWAY UNITED: E Watts; R Slevin, G Buckley, G Cunningham; J Esua, D Hurley (S Walsh 81), C Byrne, V Borden (C McCormack 69), E McCarthy; P Hickey, M Dyer (C Horgan 88). CORK CITY: T Tein; M Mbeng, F Anderson (M Fitzpatrick 58), C Lyons, D Crowley; S Murray, R Shipston (S Maguire 46), E McLaughlin (G Bolger 54); C O'Sullivan, D Daniels, J Fitzpatrick (M Murray 90+1). Referee: M Houlihan
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Conor McCormack hits late winner as Galway United halt losing run with victory against Cork City
Galway United overcame Cork City 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to a late Conor McCormack winner. Hosts Galway United arrived into the game on the back of four defeats on the bounce - their worst losing run since 2019 - while Cork City, under new manager Gerard Nash, came to Corribside in second-last place in the Premier Division table. The opening opportunity of the encounter fell at the feet of Djenairo Daniels after a pinpoint through ball by Cathal O'Sullivan, but the Dutch native was unable to get a strike away. The City striker had a similar opening later on in the half and would have been disappointed not to test Evan Watts, who came into the starting United line-up in place of the injured Brendan Clarke. The Leesiders also manufactured the first clear-cut chance in the first period, as their full-back, Milan Mbeng, did superbly to get in behind the home defence, only for the finish to flash just wide of Watts' goal. The Tribesmen's only real opportunity of the first 45 minutes came the way of striker Moses Dyer late in the half, but his low driven strike failed to hit the target, with City shot-stopper Tein Troost relieved to see the ball go past the the half time whistle loomed, City would have been wondering how they didn't go into the break in front. The sharp O'Sullivan took advantage of a bouncing ball behind the United backline and did well to get around Watts, but his stretched strike somehow didn't hit the net with the goal glaring. As the second half started, the game soon came to the 48th minute, the lively Dyer picked the ball up in attack, drove at the City defence from the left, before his goalward cross took a deflection off Freddie Anderson and looped over Troost to give United the lead. That was the New Zealander attacker's ninth goal of the league campaign. A few minutes after the opener, in the 52nd minute, City were awarded a lifeline when the referee adjudged Jeannot Esua to have handled the ball in the area. Daniels stepped up to the penalty spot and sent Watts the wrong way to equalise the encounter. From then on, valuable chances came the way of United's Patrick Hickey and Greg Cunningham, but neither were able to find the were eventually rewarded for the pressure in the 85th minute. After superb play by Esua and substitute Stephen Walsh, the latter set up fellow introducee Conor McCormack, who cannoned an effort home from close range to send the home faithful into euphoria. The Tribesmen, who will be glad to break the losing duck, were able to see out the remainder of the contest to pick up a crucial three points. Next up for Galway United is an away trip to face Shamrock Rovers, while Cork City welcome reigning Premier Division champions Shelbourne to Turner's Cross. Galway United: Watts; Byrne, Slevin, Cunningham, Dyer (Horgan 88); Hurley (Walsh 82), Hickey, Borden (McCormack 68), McCarthy, Buckley; Esua.
