Cork City Vrs Hibernian 03 July 2005

Last updated : 03 July 2005 By Brian Hine
Loads and Loads of Green
The official programme of the game between Cork City and Hibernian July 03 2005


























Hibs played the first of three pre-season games in Eire today and at stake was the 'The City of Culture Cup' to mark the city of Cork's accolade this year and the challenge game slotted in nicely with the other celebrations, events and activities to mark said event in Cork this year.

Hibs took over a large squad of players but a couple of noticeable absentees were Derek Riordan and Gary Caldwell who were left in Edinburgh to gain some rest after their international duties in the close season.

Hibs took over around 7-800 fans for this game and they were matched by the Cork support who are in the middle of their season BTW ensuring a good banter between opposing fans.

It has been said that it was a carnival like atmosphere with both sets of fans getting on famously, though there were too many celtic tops in evidence by what I've heard, though this was to be expected seeing as we were in celtics back garden, so to speak, but you never know, after today's game and introductions, there might be a few more Hibs tops on the locals next time Hibs are over in that neck of the woods.
The more the merrier as they say.
Hibs started with this line-up:-
Starting Line up
Simon Brown
Notman
Shiels
Hogg
McDonald
Stewart
A Murray
Shields
Spoule
Konte
McCaffrey

The first half belonged to Cork who finished the first 45 minutes in a shock
3-0 lead with Hibs only worthwhile mention being Kontes goal that was rightly chalked off for offside.

Corks first goal must go down as a Simon Brown blunder (when is he gonna learn!!), the second to a soft(ish) penalty given away by Michael Stewart and the third was a 25 yard screamer which left Brown no chance this time.

The Second half saw changes in both camps with Cork taking off four first team regulars and Hibs putting four more experienced players on and what a difference it made as Hibs fought to get back into the game. Sam Morrow got a cool double which should help his confidence no end and sandwiched in between was a goal from lanky striker young Stephen Fletcher

Second half subs for Hibs were:
Start of the second Half:-
Boozy
Smith
McCluskey
Morrow

About 65 minutes into the game:
Fletcher
Glass

And in the last few minutes a run out was given to
D.Smith
Stevenson
Jamie McKenzie

With the game ending in a draw the teams had five penalties each for the privilege of lifting the never before played for 'City of Culture Cup'
Penalties

Glass, Fletcher, Morrow and Boozy all score for Hibs in the shoot out but McCluskey missed Hibs fifth penalty so with Cork scoring all five of theirs the 'City of Culture Cup' was lifted by Cork.
So a draw and a preverbal game of two half's in our first pre-season warm up
Match photos available here
Brian
GGTTH