Cork City  recorded a three one win over Blarney United, on Monday 16 Febuary at O'Shea Park.

Paul Doolin selected a strong starting eleven, but it was the home side who struck first. After just six minutes a low cross from the left by Sam O'Regan was met by the head of Gary O'Riordan, whose header beat the dive of Mark McNulty to the bottom corner of the net. Blarney's lead was short-lived however, as just a minute later Pat Sullivan swung in an excellent cross from wide on the right and it was met by a diving header from Denis Behan to level the scores.

After 12 minutes Billy Dennehy and Danny Murphy combined well wide on the left to set up Faz Kuduzovic but he was unable to really test the keeper with a weak effort from close range. Kuduzovic was at the heart of much of City's attacking play, testing the Blarney keeper again moments later with a shot from distance, and then just failing to connect properly with Denis Behan's cross after his persistence saw him win possession on the left wing.

City were looking dangerous going forward, and again threatened when Denis Behan again connected with a cross, only to see his header well saved by the Blarney keeper. Behan came close again moments later, after Kuduzovic slipped an excellent through ball in behind the defence, but the home side's keeper just beat the City attacker to the ball. City continued to press, with Pat Sullivan putting a number of good crosses in from the right wing, before Kuduzovic again threatened on the half hour, connecting with a cross from Neal Horgan first time only to see his low shot well saved.

Good work from Horgan and Sullivan down the right saw City win another corner, with a cross just being intercepted by the home defence as Billy Dennehy looked set to pounce six yards out. Seconds later the ball broke for Dennehy, this time on the edge of the box, and his powerful effort was well parried by the Blarney goalkeeper. The home side reappeared as an attacking force moments later, with Mark McNulty having to be alert to gather at the near post. On 36 minutes Pat Sullivan reacted quickly to intercept a loose ball on the right, and he controlled the ball well before feeding Kuduzovic who finished to the net from close range to put the Rebel Army 2-1 up.

City were dominating proceedings at this point, and the lively Kuduzovic turned neatly on the edge of the box before firing in a left-footed effort which was saved by the keeper. Five minutes before half time, another neat through ball split the Blarney defence, and Joe Gamble raced through on goal, but was unable to get his shot away and the home side recovered to clear. City forced two corners in quick succession before half time, with Sean Kelly unlucky on both occasions not to connect properly with crosses from first Sullivan and then Healy.

Kelly was then replaced by Greg O'Halloran at half time, with O'Halloran slotting straight into the centre of defence alongside Dan Murray. City came close to adding to their lead early in the second half with Billy Dennehy volleying just wide after Denis Behan had forced a corner, before Dennehy fed Kuduzovic with his blocked effort earning City yet another corner. Ten minutes into the second half, Doolin began to ring the changes, with Cillian Lordan slotting into midfield after replacing Colin Healy, before Shane Duggan joined him in middle of the park as a replacement for Gamble. Under 20 League winner Paul Deasy also joined the action as a replacement for the impressive Kuduzovic.

Shortly after the hour mark City threatened again, with Denis Behan laying the ball off well for Billy Dennehy who saw his volley well saved.That proved to be Behan's last significant contribution to the action as he was replaced moments later by Timmy Kiely. The remainder of the game proved to be a scrappy affair with Shane Duggan testing the keeper from the edge of the box before Kiely sealed the win on 81 minutes as he finished well after a mix-up in the box.

Starting Line-Up: McNulty, Horgan, Murphy, Murray, Healy, Gamble, Kuduzovic, Dennehy,Behan, Sullivan, Kelly.
Substitutions: O'Halloran for Kelly (Half Time), Lordan for Healy (53 mins), Shane Duggan & Deasy for Gamble & Kuduzovic (55 mins), Kiely for Behan (65 mins). Not used: O'Neill, Philpott, Craig Duggan.