Joe Gamble scored his first goal of the season to give Cork City a winning start to their Setanta Sports Cup challenge against Cliftonville at Turner's Cross.

 

Cork faced Cliftonville twice on their way to their first win in the competition last season and won both matches. The memory of those victories were a big encouragement to Cork who have undergone many changes in their squad.

 

Gamble's constructive work in midfield has been of consistent help to Cork in recent seasons but it is rarely he has contributed a goal. His strike was a welcome one against Cliftonville before the smallest crowd of the season.

 

Cork's win over Drogheda a week ago left manager Paul Doolin in confident enough mood to name an unchanged team for this game but a late change was forced upon them. Neal Horgan was recalled to right back as Greg

 

O'Halloran was switched to centre-back for young Kevin Long who was forced to withdraw.

 

Cliftonville were without Conor Downey and Mark Patterson, the son of the manager, but midfielder Mark Holland passed a late fitness test.

 

Cork missed an early chance when Kuduzovic and Cillian Lordan sent left-winger Billy Dennehy clear and former Bohemians' goalkeeper, John Connolly did well to block his effort.

 

Cork continued to make the running and Dennehy again had a shooting chance when he cut inside Aaron Smyth but his shot hit the side-netting.

 

Cliftonville might have scored in 34 minutes when a cross from Smyth on the right found goalkeeper Mark McNulty out of position but Chris Scannell headed over the bar.

 

Cork took the lead their early superiority deserved after 37 minutes. Davin O'Neill's cross to the far post was rescued by Dennehy and his return was turned into the net from inside the six yard box by Gamble.

 

It was Gamble first goal in 12 months and very welcome to Cork who had wasted a lot of possession. His only previous goal for the club came on August 28 last year in a 3-0 home won over Bray Wanderers.

 

Both teams struck the woodwork early in the second half as Davin O'Neill hit an upright for Cork after 52 minutes and Ciaran Caldwell's half volley came back of the bar minutes later

 

Cliftonville's second half was much improved and although they had an escape when goalkeeper Connolly made a terrific one-handed save from Cambridge, they would not have been flattered to draw.

 

They came closest in the 72nd minute when a cross from George McMullan was met by the team captain Scannell, but his header was narrowly wide.

 

Cork City: McNulty; Horgan, O'Halloran, Murray, Murphy; O'Neill (Kiely 60), Gamble, Lordan, Dennehy; Kuduzovic, Cambridge.

 

Cliftonville: Connolly; Smyth, O'Hara, Donaghy, R. Scannell (B Holland 70); McMullan, Catney, Caldwell, Murphy (Clarke 80); C. Scannell, M. Holland (Dunlop 80).

 

Referee: Mr. R. Winter (Dublin)