Cork fail to convert possession

Cork City 0 Shamrock Rovers 0: CORK CITY failed to capitalise on Bohemians' slip-up against St Patrick's Athletic last night when they had to settle for a scoreless draw against Shamrock Rovers at Turner's Cross.

Having gone 10 games unbeaten before last weekend’s defeat to Bohs, the Leesiders have now failed to win in three outings.

Despite enjoying the lion’s share of the possession last night, Cork failed to ask many questions of Rovers goalkeeper Robert Duggan, as the Dublin side held out for a share of the spoils.

Cork welcomed Joe Gamble back from injury and he replaced the suspended Cillian Lordan in midfield, while Ollie Cahill and Dessie Baker returned for the visitors at the expense of Seán O’Connor and Pádraig Amond.

Paul Doolin’s side controlled the game from early on, with Latvian striker Guntars Silagailis squandering two good opportunities inside the opening five minutes.

The visitors offered little going forward in the opening 45 minutes. Their best opportunity came courtesy of Stephen Rice in the 42nd minute but his half-volley from the edge of the box was pushed away by Dan Connor.

Dan Murray and Greg O’Halloran both went close for Cork approaching the interval but their efforts failed to hit the target. Gamble almost made the breakthrough for the home side but his left-footed strike was deflected narrowly wide by Aidan Price on the stroke of half-time.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Cork piling on the pressure but failing to test Duggan in the Rovers goal.

Such was the scarcity of good opportunities in this game Cork’s first shot on target didn’t arrive until the 79th minute, when Denis Behan’s tame effort from the edge of the box was comfortably dealt with by Duggan.

Timmy Kiely passed up a good chance to win the game for Cork with five minutes left on the clock, the substitute failing to connect with Danny Murphy’s cross.

CORK CITY: Connor; Sullivan, O'Halloran, Murray, Murphy; O'Donnell (Dennehy, 71 mins), Healy, Gamble; Silagailis (Kiely, 86 mins), Behan, Kuduzovic (Duggan, 82 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Duggan; Treacy, Maguire, Price, Bermingham; Bradley, Robinson (Purcell, 77 mins), Rice, Cahill (O'Connor, half-time); Twigg, Baker (Cameron, half-time).

Referee: R Winter(Dublin).