Corkbeg started 2019 with a bang, when they defeated Dunbar Celtic by two goals to nil in Whitegate on Saturday afternoon. The win was no less than Corkbeg deserved, having dominated the game for the ninety minutes against a very good side.
After the Christmas lay-off, the game was pretty scrappy throughout, with both sides looking a bit rusty. Dunbar were first to threaten, when they headed narrowly wide from a corner, but it was Corkbeg who created the better chances in the opening half. The first arrived after 15 minutes, when good work from Shane Bennett and Dylan O Neill, saw Alan Hogan fire past Timmy O Shea in the Dunbar goal, but the ball was brilliantly cleared off the goal-line. Aaron Berry was outstanding at the heart of the Corkbeg midfield and he saw a shot whistle narrowly over the Dunbar crossbar midway through the half. On the half hour, some good footwork from Jordan Ryan set up Tariq Tynan in front of goal, but his curling shot from 15 yards was brilliantly turned past the post one-handed by Dunbar goalkeeper Timmy O Shea. Corkbeg finally made the breakthrough just before half time, when Aaron Berrys free kick was half blocked and when the ball fell to Dylan O Neill, he fed Alan Horgan, up from right back, to fire low past O Shea.
The second half continued in the same vein, with the game continuing to be scrappy, but with Corkbeg looking the more likely to score. Dunbar did have one early second half opportunity, when a deep cross was headed over, but their attacks were rare. Corkbeg were on the front foot all the time with Berry outstanding, but the final ball was leaving them down and Dunbar were well marshalled at the back by Dane Holland & Niall O Leary. Jordan Ryan drew a decent save from O Shea from 25 yards and substitute Robin Ward lost control after a mistake at the back by Dunbar. On 70 minutes, Corkbeg doubled their lead when Alan Hogan put Jordan Ryan through on goal and he fired past O Shea from an acute angle. Dunbar substitute Liam Hewitt did have a couple of half chances after this and Corkbeg goalkeeper Eric Higgins had to save well with his feet during one attack. Corkbeg were reduced to ten men near the end, when Shane Bennett was red carded, but it was still Corkbeg who looked more likely to add to their total, with both Jordan Ryan & Daragh O Mahony missing decent chances as time ran out.
Team: E. Higgins, A. Horgan, D. O Mahony, S. O Halloran, D. Creedon, A. Berry, S. Bennett, J. Ryan, D. O Neill, T. Tynan, A. Hogan. Subs: R. Ward for T. Tynan(55mins), J. Tynan for D. O Neill(75mins), T. Smyth, L. O Brien, C. Finnegan