Maguire on fire in Tallaght

Cork City FC made it five wins from five to go two points clear in the SSE Airtricity League as the Rebel Army slip passed Shamrock Rovers 2-1 in Tallaght Stadium. Once again it was the star man Seani Maguire who made it six from six to clinch another three pints for the league leaders. It only took seven minutes for first blood to be drawn when a mistake by goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski allowed Maguire to slip through on his line and fire into an open net, for the Kilkenny natives sixth goal of the season.The lead however was short lived as Stephen Bradley’s men pummelled forward and truck lucky when Conor McCormack handled the ball inside the area to grant Rovers a crucial penalty. Up stepped Graham Burke who fired well passed McNulty in goal to send the sides in level at the break. Despite a dominating opening to the season which has seen Caulfield’s men score eleven goals and concede two, it was the hosts who would cause a scare for the second half. Cheap passes in midfield gifted Rovers with a succession of play, but an attacking line led by Ronan Finn and Gary Shaw, City kept their lines well defended and McNulty quite, Late on; the resilience of the Rebel Army pressed the sharpened Rovers defence and Seani Maguire charged forward to be brought down by David Webster for a penalty. Keeping his head cool, Maguire stepped up; and with the same form which saw the Kilkenny native bag a hat trick last September on the same pitch, fired well and gave City a late lead. Rovers pushed and pressed but a manned defence of Conor McCormack, Alan Bennett and Ryan Delaney where step and sturdy in keeping the Hoops at bay. Full time score in Tallaght Stadium was 2-1 to Cork City FC who, after the editorial deadline, made it six wins in a row, beating rivals Dundalk 2-1 in a packed Turner’s Cross.SHAMROCK ROVERS – Chencinski, Madden, Devine, Webster, Clarke, McAllister, Meenan (O'Connor, 90), Finn, Connolly (Doona, 80), Burke, Shaw (Boyd, 73).CORK CITY – McNulty, McCormack, Dunleavy (Bennett, 70), Delaney, O'Connor, Buckley, Beattie (Sheppard, 61), Morrissey, Keohane, Dooley (Ellis, 77), MaguireReferee– Jim McKell