City 0-1 Village People - my ratings
Robbie Horgan:
I shan't rate him, as to do so would be just as unfair as selecting him under current circumstances was in the first place. Beaten all ends up by Fenn's free-kick and didn't even move as O'Callaghan volleyed the rebound home. Almost gifted Cork two further goals by charging recklessly from his area. For the sake of having something in the pro column, one may as well note that he made a good catch late on.
Look, I don't want it to seem as though I'm conducting some kind of witch-hunt against Robbie. He's a brilliant bloke, a legend of Irish football, and made as important a contribution as anyone to getting us into the Premier Division. But allowing him to keep goal whilst so obviously devoid of form and confidence is doing no-one, least of all Robbie himself, any favours. With the team bottom of the table and a top-class `keeper (Brendan Kennedy) waiting in the wings, it's just suicidal.
Barry Burke: 7.5
As busy as anyone on the field, Barry almost cost us a goal with a dreadfully sloppy pass towards the end of the match, but was otherwise solid. Given that Barry plays his best football as an attacking central midfielder, it's perhaps surprising that he doesn't get forward more when operating at full-back.
Wes Byrne: 8
Showed more urgency and desire than anyone out there, and even swung over some decent crosses for a change. I think we'll just have to accept the occasional lapse of touch or control as an inevitable component of our Wesley's style of play, but one must offset that against the vim and leadership he brings to the team.
Derek Griffin: 8
Third game in six days - and he still won man of the match! Developing into a fine player.
Ben Whelehan: 7.5
Turned and beaten for pace on more than one occasion, but still running Gary O'Neill close for the title of best close-season acquisition.
Cathal O'Connor: 6
Not up to his usual high standard, but Cottsy still looked the player most likely to provide the crucial assist. Just has that intangible spark of creativity about him. Lucky not to be booked (at least) for a little, ahem, tete-a-tete, in the first half. Should have equalised with our only clear chance of the game.
Keith Foy: 5
Sluggish, lacklustre performance. A few decent set-pieces were the extent of his contribution.
Jason Colwell: 7
Terrier-like for the most part, but didn't always use the ball to good effect.
Terry Gleeson: 6
Game passed him by.
Paul Crowley: 7.5
First-minute booking failed to curb his energetic style. Always looking to get forward but there, perhaps, is the rub. City desperately need (if we persist with 4-5-1) someone to push forward in support of Gary O'Neill; Paul's particular set of skills are best suited to a more defensive role, so surely Burke, McGill or even Maher (or indeed Gleeson, although recent performances suggest otherwise) could be employed further forward.
Gary O'Neill: 7.5
Can't expect him to bail us out every time. Which isn't to say he played badly - although well marshalled by Murray, Gary was still our most potent attacking option. Minor criticism - perhaps not direct enough on the night, in the sense that he kept weaving in and out of the Cork defence when opportunities to go through them plainly existed. Extend contract brilliant news for all City fans.
SUBS:
Philly Hughes: 7
The more prominent of the two forwards for the last fifteen minutes, and when your striker partner is called Gary O'Neill, that's a pretty substantial compliment. Did most of his work with his back to goal, and wasn't given anything to run on to.
Killian Brennan: 6
Frantic finale not his cup of tea. Should have been introduced much, much earlier.
Robbie Collins: Not on long enough
Last, despairing roll of the dice. Don't think he got a kick.
