Cork City 1 - 1 Leeds United XI

A moment of class from Colin Healy five minutes into the second half proved the highlight on Thursday evening, as Cork City and a youthful Leeds United XI played out a fairly drab draw.

The game was the quintessential friendly – both sides enjoyed decent spells of possession, but neither really seized control of proceedings and dominated.

It was, in truth, played at a fairly tepid pace, and the flurry of substitutes from both sides didn’t help the tempo of the game one bit.

It was a good outing for City as they prepare for the 2013 Airtricity League season however, and a number of the new signings gave a good account of themselves in front of their new supporters.

The evening began in a frantic and thoroughly disjointed manner – both teams were full to the brim of enthusiasm and impetus, but neither could really find the means to take charge of the game.

Despite the anarchic opening however, Cork City came within inches to taking the lead after just three minutes, when Ian Turner’s well struck free kick grazed the cross bar.

As the first half wore on however, the hosts began to assert their seniority over their youthful visitors. Gearoid Morrissey and Shane Duggan were anchoring the midfield, while Daryl Horgan and Ian Turner were always a threat drifting in from their respective wings.

Then, with 20 minutes on the clock, the Rebel Army had the ball in the net. Daryl Horgan latched onto a superb ball over the top, before sending a delicate lob over Cork-born Leeds net-minder Eric Grimes – but the referee ruled it out for offside.

It really was one-way traffic for the first half, and the hosts were foiled once again on the half an hour mark – this time, the new boys linked up. Daryl Kavanagh whipped in a ball from the right side, only for Danny Furlong’s acrobatic effort to crash against a Leeds defender and be cleared to safety.

A lot of the pre-match build-up was centred on Leeds keeper Eric Grimes, who began his career with local Cork side Ringmahon Rangers – he made a superb stop in the 43^rd minute, keeping Ian Turner’s vicious effort from 30 yards safely at bay.

Five minutes after the break, City had a deserved lead – Grimes punched clear a cross, only to see it fall to the feet of ex-Irish international Colin Healy, who produced a moment of brilliance to hammer the ball into the back of the net – prompting a series of approving oohs and aahs from the home support.

Cork manager Tommy Dunne had made a whole host of changes at half time – literally introducing an entire new eleven players – and one of these was youngster Stephen Kenny, who, playing in a drifting role, really was excellent, his quick feet and intelligent movement confounding the inexperienced Leeds defence on a number of occasions.

On the hour mark, he exhibited a fantastic example of that – picking the ball up deep, he set off on a marauding run the middle, getting inside the box before blasting just over from close range.

A greater sense of urgency really was tangible at the beginning of the second half, and the game was more contested and end-to-end – Leeds had their first real chance of the evening on 63 minutes, when Lewis Turner struck over after a game of ping-pong in the penalty area.

City had another chance squandered by Stephen Kenny after a quick break, but the game had really fizzled out – apart from a flurry of chances in the final ten minutes.

First, Leeds forward Eoghan Stokes blazed over after finding himself unmarked in the box - he really should have done better.

Then, the Yorkshire outfit got themselves back on level terms – Lewis Turner advanced down the right side, before squaring the ball for substitute Sanchez Payne – who showed real composure to slot home from close range.

The home side then had a wonderful chance to regain their lead, when Danny Morrissey bundled the ball over the bar after meeting Stephen Kenny’s superb cross from the right wing.

Leeds went close again at the end, when first Luke Parkin and then Sanchez Payne sent efforts wide that could easily have hit the back of the net.

Cork City: Kevin Burns; Neal Horgan, Kevin Murray, Darren Dennehy, Danny Murphy; Ian Turner, Gearóid Morrissey, Shane Duggan, Daryl Horgan; Daryl Kavanagh, Danny Furlong (First Half).
(Second Half): Mark McNulty; Eoghan Murphy, Dan Murray, Kalen Spillane, Jason Forde; Colin Healy, Gavan Holohan, Garry Buckley, Stephen Kenny, Danny Morrissey, Adam Rundle.

Leeds United XI: Eric Grimes; Lewis Turner, Jordan Snodin (Lewis Coyle, 66), Nathan Turner, Monty Gimpel (Afalobi Coker, 78); Ross Killock (C) Alex Purver (Jake Skelton, 61), Lewis Walters (Luke Parkin, 52), Alex Mowatt (Kalvin Phillips, 78); Mattieau Mansett (Eoghan Stokes, 52), Patrick Antelmi (Sanchez Payne, 61)