Cork City have opened up a huge 16 point gap at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table after a come from behind victory over a spirited Sligo Rovers side at the Showgrounds last night.
A first-half penalty from Kieran Sadlier had the hosts in front at the break. That man Seani Maguire did have a chance to equalise on 54 minutes, only to slip his spot-kick wide of Schlingermann’s post.
Substitute, former Sligo striker Achilles Campion, did manage to level things up just after the hour mark when he hit home Johnny Dunleavey’s Cross.
With just nine minutes remaining, a corner from Kevin O’Connor deceived everybody and found the net to give the Leesiders all three points.
We caught up with the match-winner O’Connor afterwards;
“Listen it was a great win. Over the last couple of years they’ve been a bit of a bogey team for us, and it’s just massive for us to go up there and get the three points.”
“We were disappointed with the penalty we conceded, but the lads showed great character to get back into it.”
“I thought once we got back the first goal there was only going to be one winner, it was just a matter of if there was enough time.”
When asked about his goal O’Connor said, “I suppose on the goal, you know we practice set pieces a lot here and I just have to hit an area, which I did. I was lucky the way it went in, but you need that luck over the course of the season.”
As for Friday’s clash with Shamrock Rovers in Turners Cross O’Connor told theleagueofireland.com “In our eyes it’s just another game that we can win. You know we take it one game at a time here, and it’s the same three points on Friday night as it was tonight and we just need to make sure we’re ready.”
Photo Credit;
Doug Minihane (Cork City)