Late goals deny Salthill Devon

Date Published: 03-Aug-2010

SALTHILL Devon looked set for a share of the spoils in Drom on Saturday night after Victor Collins pounced for an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining during a spirited second-half performance against Cork City at Drom, but the introduction of super sub Garrett Cambridge in the final stages turned the tide back in the Munster side’s favour.

The hosts had looked outclassed during the opening exchanges of the encounter and spent large parts of the first half struggling against wave after wave of Cork attacks.

The quality of Devon’s defending as the game progressed was a source of some confidence for Mike Quirke’s men and they began to play with greater assurance, though they remained confined to their own half for much of the remainder of the period.

Salthill pressed forward and threatened to turn the game on its head after 27 minutes when Ciprian Straut unleashed a low shot as he crossed the Cork area, and Mark McNulty watched helplessly as the ball rolled narrowly wide.

Tommy Dunne’s side finally capitalised on their domination of the match in the 32nd minute with a well-worked goal. Barrett’s clever cut-back in the Salthill area found O’Neill, whose shot was blocked in the goalmouth by Barry Geraghty. The rebound came to O’Neill again, who floated the ball across goal for Graham Cummins to head in from close range.

The hosts approached the game with renewed vigour when they emerged for the second half and began to look the better side for a time.

Devon’s prospects were hampered by an injury to the impressive new signing, former Galway United midfielder Cian McBrien in the 68th minute, but substitute Victor Collins seized a good opportunity two minutes later when he rounded the goalkeeper and scored from a narrow angle after he had looked to have carried the ball too far.

The equaliser was no less than Salthill had deserved on the strength of their second half performance but new life was breathed into the ember of Cork City’s attack with the introduction of Garrett Cambridge with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Cambridge created his side’s second goal in the 80th minute as Cork began to dominate proceedings again. He put Cummins through on goal and Forde was ill-advised as he advanced without reasonable prospect of beating the striker to the ball. The Cork man rounded the flailing keeper and slotted home to restore the advantage.

Cambridge capped an impressive cameo appearance with a goal for himself in the dying minutes of the game in some style.

For a full match report see page 21 of this week’s Sentinel