Cork City 1-1 Derry City

A late strike from substitute Thomas Stewart earned Derry City a point against cash-strapped Cork City at a very wet Turner’s Cross tonight.

The home side had taken the lead mid-way through the second half when Darragh Ryan scored his first league goal for the club with a fine header.

But the visitors, who had travelled to Cork when this fixture was postponed on Friday, and made the journey again today, saw Stewart belt home a 25-yard shot past Michael Devine on 86 minutes.

The sides meet again on Saturday in Turner’s Cross in the quarter-final of the FAI Ford Cup.

Cork, who were recently plunged into a financial crisis due to the withdrawal of the financial backing of the club’s owners Arkaga, were glad to have this game re-scheduled so quickly.

With the club in examinership and the players and backroom staff currently receiving just 30% of their wages, their only source of income is through gate receipts and sponsorship.

So with this fixture and the FAI Cup quarter-final clash also against Derry next Saturday night again in Turner’s Cross, it was felt that an increase to 50% of salaries could be paid out in the coming weeks.

Both clubs faced the game with players out suspended, Cork midfielder Joe Gamble who was sent off against Shamrock Rovers missed out, with Derry manager Stephen Kenny having to select without Barry Molloy and Stephen Gray who also faced bans.

In a scoreless first half, there were five players yellow carded by referee Tommy Connolly, two from the home side, Darren Murphy and Denis Behan, with the visitors’ Sean Hargan, Kevin McHugh and Clive Delaney all cautioned.

Just after the break Cork went close to going in front when midfielder Darren Murphy made progress down the left, before cutting into the penalty area and firing a shot into the side netting.

But Alan Mathew's side, who were down to ten men for five minutes as forward Denis Behan received attention for an ankle injury in the dressing room, took the lead after 65 minutes.

Darren Murphy found substitute Alan O'Connor down the left wing and his far post cross was headed over goalkeeper Gerard Doherty and into the net for Ryan’s first league goal for the club.

But with the restricted 1,972 attendance set to celebrate, Stewart hit the late equaliser into the bottom corner of Michael Devine's net.

And Darren Murphy then had a late shot brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by goalkeeper Doherty.

CORK: Devine; Horgan, Murray, Kelly, Danny Murphy; Lordan, Darren Murphy, Healy, Ryan; Kearney, Behan.
Subs: Woods for Behan(inj)71 mins, O'Connor for Lordan h/t, Kiely, Cambridge, McNulty.

DERRY: Doherty; Hargan, McGrystal, Delaney, McGlynn; McHugh, Higgins, Deery, McGinn; Morrow, Farren.
Subs: Stewart for Morrow 79, McLean for McHugh 71, McCallion, Callaghan, Quigley.

Referee. Tommy Conolly (Dublin).