Cork City 3-0 Derry City
Cork City made it three home wins from three in the Airtricity Premier Division in front of a bumper crowd of 5,104 at Turner’s Cross, scoring three goals and notching up a fifth consecutive clean sheet during their 3-0 victory over Derry City.
John O’Flynn opened the scoring when he netted from close range following great build-up play by full-back Ross Gaynor in the 16th minute, while two further goals from Karl Sheppard - one in either half - sealed the win.
The visitors had a number of half chances to score themselves in the second half, but came closest to a breakthrough in added time when Patrick McEleney planted an effort onto Mark McNulty’s crossbar with a lovely effort.
Colin Healy once again missed out through injury. City boss John Caulfield opted to start Garry Buckley in midfield with Dan Murray dropped to the bench following the win over Bray last time out. His counterpart Peter Hutton, likewise, made one change - bringing in Seanan Clucas as a replacement for Joshua Daniels.
The home side looked dangerous in attack right from the off and enjoyed a superb opening 45 minutes - with Pat’s manager Liam Buckley watching on as an interested spectator ahead of the clubs’ League clash next week.
Caulfield’s men might even have broken the deadlock as early as the fifth minute. From Billy Dennehy’s cross, his brother Darren was just inches away from making contact and directing the ball home after stealing away unattended to the back post.
When the opening goal arrived, it was no more than Caulfield’s free-flowing outfit deserved. Driven by Man of the Match Liam Miller in the middle of the park, it was Gaynor that battled past a handful of opponents to supply O’Flynn with the perfect pass, and the striker duly fired to the back of the net from close range.
The combined pace of O’Flynn, Billy Dennehy and Sheppard caused huge concern for the visitors, and a brilliant ball from Miller almost saw the City number nine grab a second on the half-hour mark only for the ball to fizzle out of play just before he napped control.
Derry keeper Gerard Doherty made two excellent saves from Miller and then John Dunleavy to keep the deficit at 1-0 as the game ticked towards the break. The midfielder broke from the centre circle and found himself in growing space before firing a shot on target and drawing a decent save from Derry’s number one.
Doherty did even better a minute later, however, when he tipped a curling effort from the boot Dunleavy - which the Donegal native launched from the edge of the Derry box - over the crossbar and out for a corner kick.
The pressure from the Leesiders was relentless and eventually proved to be too much for Petter Hutton’s players to withhold any longer. Billy Dennehy’s corner found his brother Darren at the edge of the area in the 44th minute, and the centre-half’s header back into the box was knocked home at the left-hand post by Sheppard.
The Candystripes had lined out with Anthony Elding up front alone during the opening half and started the second by moving Patrick McEleney up alongside the ex-Cork attacker.
It proved to be an indication of what was to come initially in the second half as Derry’s number ten tried one from distance on 46 minutes - but was well off target with his final shot - before Philip Lowry drew a good save from Mark McNulty with an effort from the edge of the City box ten minutes later.
Sheppard claimed his second of the night just in time to ease the growing nerves around the ground. The goal finished a great move that started with Dunleavy and continued down the right-hand side through Garry Buckley. The youngster’s cross found an unmarked Sheppard, who side-footed a lovely ball beyond Doherty’s outstretched hand.
There was still time for McEleney - Derry’s biggest threat all evening - to almost pull one back for Hutton’s team. However, his effort clattered McNulty’s crossbar, rebounded back into play and was eventually cleared away by a resolute Cork back line.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Alan Bennett, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor; Garry Buckley (Gavan Holohan ’88), John Dunleavy, Liam Miller, Billy Dennehy (Kieran Djilali ’73); Karl Sheppard, John O’Flynn (Danny Morrissey ’84).
Substitutes: Kevin O’Brien, Dan Murray, Mark O’Sullivan, Rob Lehane.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Shaun Kelly, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Aaron Barry; Patrick McEleney, Barry McNamee, Philip Lowry, Seanan Clucas (Cillian Morrison ’69), Mark Timlin (Sean Houston ’83); Anthony Elding (Ryan Curran ’80).
Substitutes: Shaun Patton, Nathan Boyle, Patrick McClean, Seamus Sharkey.
Referee: Robert Harvey
