Cork too strong and settled even down a man

Cork City 2 Dungannon Swifts 0: Cork City were reduced to 10 men as early as the 28th minute of last night's Setanta Sports Cup tie at Turner's Cross when winger Roy O'Donovan was sent off, but they were still too much for an outclassed Dungannon Swifts.

Cork were too strong and too well-balanced in their play for Dungannon, whose first visit to Cork helped draw an attendance of 3,000. And while they played some pretty football and contributed to a competitive contest, there was little end product.

Dungannon threatened in breakaway attacks in the opening half without extending goalkeeper Michael Devine. Michael Ward and David Bulow showed pace and initiative through the middle in front of a very compact midfield, but a stern Cork defence surrendered just one opportunity when Bulow had a shot from 18 yards deflected outside by Dan Murray for a corner.

Cork controlled the game, but it was not until right-winger O'Donovan was sent off that they injected urgency into their play.

O'Donovan was caught in a double tackle from Shane McCabe and John Paul Gallagher and reacted angrily. The referee immediately showed a yellow card to McCabe and, after consulting the linesman, produced a red card for O'Donovan.

The incident annoyed Cork and they immediately stepped up the pace. Play was compressed into Dungannon's half from there to the half-time whistle.

They jumped in front in the 40th minute when Danny Murphy dropped a pass over the top of the defence from the half-way line. Gallagher looked favourite to win the dropping ball, but as he slipped O'Flynn reacted quickly to fire under goalkeeper David Wells from 12 yards.

O'Callaghan produced a trademark goal from a free two minutes into the second half to give Cork a little breathing space. O'Callaghan appeared fortunate to be given the free when he was tackled by Montgomery, but he picked himself off the ground to fire a glorious shot to the roof of the net from 25 yards.

Dungannon did go close twice. Ward forced Devine to save at the foot of an upright in the 65th minute and, within 60 seconds, McCabe drove a shot from 28 yards narrowly wide.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Brien, Gamble, O'Callaghan; O'Donovan, Fenn, O'Flynn. Sub: Woods for Fenn (75 mins).

DUNGANNON: Wells; Wray, Montgomery, McCrystal, Gallagher; Scullion, Delgado, McCabe, Everaldo; Ward, Bulow. Subs: Adamson for Gallagher (62 mins), McMinn for McCrystal (70 mins), Fitzpatrick for Delgado (78 mins).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).