Celtic capture the Cork SuperCup after a hard fought 2-1 win over Cork City

Cork City 1

Celtic 2

The inaugural Cork Super Cup is going to Glasgow following Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Cork City at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in front of 26,580 spectators on Tuesday evening.

Local hero Adam Idah did not appear on a night that saw Colby Donovan decide a game that opened with Luke McCowan hitting the back of the net with a sublime finish, and then Matthew Murray equalising midway through the second half for City.

Both teams used the Cork Super Cup to experiment, with Gerard Nash giving a debut to goalkeeper David Odumosu.

Fiacre Kelleher and Rory Feely also started their first game for the Rebel Army, after appearing as substitutes during last week’s 3-1 defeat to Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

Brendan Rodgers blended youth and experience, with the big names on their team-sheet being Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Auston Trusty, and Arne Engels.

Cork City vs Celtic: Cork City’s Cathal O’Sullivan. Picture: Ken Sutton/Inpho

The Rebel Army actually created the game’s first opening on the counter, and that effort by Alex Nolan was blocked down in just the second minute.

Nash’s tactics following this were to be as compact as possible, while the pace of Malik Dijksteel was used to carry the team forward.

Then came the opening goal, scored by McCowan with a thundering left legged strike from the edge of the area in the 27th minute at the City End.

City responded with Dijksteel trying his luck and the ball rolled harmlessly wide on the half hour mark.

Celtic took the lead into the break and Brendan Rodgers used the second period to play a second team that was captained by four time Scottish Premiership winner Stephen Welsh.

Nash did something similar by bringing on eight fresh faces and Brody Lee added to the contingent in the 61st minute.

That came during a period of play that saw chances falling to the Rebel Army as they pushed for an equaliser at the City End.

It came in the 66th minute when Matthew Murray picked up a through ball from Kitt Nelson and slotted in passed an onrushing Ross Doohan.

The Hoops went up a gear once the game restarted, beginning with a driven effort from distance that was blocked down by Freddie Anderson.

This was one of many moments late-on where the home side scrambled together in defence as Celtic pushed for the winner.

City actually managed to break against all of this in the 77th minute and Josh Fitzpatrick saw a low effort aimed at the bottom left corner pushed away by Ross Doohan.

An onrushing Milan Mbeng followed it up by trying his luck and he put the ball well over the bar.

Things petered out into a strong finish by Celtic, and they managed to get the winner in the 85th minute through Donovan.

The 18-year-old was in the right place on that occasion to connect with a corner that had been headed on.

Cork City will have no time to dwell on the result or what the game meant as they will face Waterford on Friday evening at the RSC in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Celtic will continue their preseason preparations with Idah during the summer, as they get ready for the Champions League qualifiers.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, left, and Cork City assistant manager David Meyler before the Cork Super Cup match between Cork City and Celtic FC at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Picture: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Cork City: David Odumosu; Harry Nevin, Fiacre Kelleher, Rory Feely, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley, Evan McLaughlin, Alex Nolan, Cathal O’Sullivan, Malik Dijksteel, Charlie Lutz.

Cork City second half: Conor Brann; Harry Nevin, Milan Mbeng, Freddie Anderson, Charlie Lyons, Matthew Kiernan, Greg Bolger, Josh Fitzpatrick, Kitt Nelson, Matthew Murray, Brody Lee.

Celtic first half: Viljami Sinisalo; Hayato Inamura, Auston Trusty, Colby Donovan, Dane Murray, Callum McGregor, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, Ben Summers, James Forrest, Johnny Kenny.

Celtic second half: Ross Doohan; Mitchel Frame, Stephen Welsh, Mitchell Robertson, Ben McPherson, Sean McArdle, Kyle Ure, Francis Turley, Thomas Hatton, Adam Montgomery, Callum Osmand.

Subs: Samuel Isiguzo for McArdle (72); Colby Donovan for Welsh (72).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan

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