Rovers stay in touch at top

Cork C 1 Shamrock Rovers 2:EVEN WITHOUT striker Gary Twigg, who had injured his hip, Shamrock Rovers claimed the points last evening at Turner's Cross as Stephen Kenny's side kept in touch with leaders Sligo Rovers in the Airtricity League Premier Division.

Ian Turner’s side-volley that nestled in the corner of Oscar Jansson’s net three minutes into the contest was a blow to Rovers, however. Daryl Horgan’s cushioned header to the edge of the six-yard box afforded Turner, who had run into the area, the opportunity to swivel and power beyond Jansson following Keigan Parker’s cross.

The visitors created a succession of first-half chances but which yielded little – Billy Dennehy’s 25th-minute free-kick from 22 yards that forced Burns to parry away was as close as they got.

Elusive winger Horgan then found Turner on the right. He laid off to Kenny, whose left-footed cross was met by Horgan’s glancing header that finished narrowly outside the far post.

Then, with 40 minutes on the clock, Parker missed a gilt-edged opportunity to increase City’s lead. Getting on the end of Neal Horgan’s delivery the striker volleyed sweetly and though Jansson was left on the ground having saved his initial effort, Parker somehow turned the rebound over the crossbar.

Rovers levelled two minutes later through Ronan Finn. Gary McCabe picked out Colin Hawkins just inside the City area. Aware of Finn’s advantageous position, Hawkins teed up the midfielder to rifle into the bottom corner.

Rovers went in front eight minutes later. Punishing a foul outside the area by Neal Horgan, Gary McCabe curled the resultant free-kick into the corner. City tried to force an equaliser but the Rovers’ defence held firm.

CORK CITY: K Burns, G Kavanagh, N Horgan, D Murray (capt), K Murray, G Morrissey, S Duggan, I Turner, K Parker, S Kenny, D Horgan. Subs: D O’Neill for Parker (65), K Quinn for Kenny (72), B Lenihan for Turner (72).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O Jansson, PSullivan, C Powell, C Sives, C Hawkins, S Rice, R Finn, G McCabe, C Kilduff, T Stewart, B Dennehy. Subs: C McCormack for McCabe (77), G O’Neil for Kilduff (82)

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).