Wexford Youths 0-1 Cork City
A first half strike from Garry Buckley ensured Cork City did just enough to stretch their unbeaten run in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division to 15 games.
The narrow victory at Ferrycarrig Park sees Cork close the gap on league leaders Dundalk to six points, though John Caulfield’s side have a game in hand.
Defeat, their fifth on the spin, was tough on Wexford, who deserved something from the game. They remain second bottom of the table.
Doubtless with Thursday's trip to Sweden to play FC Hacken in the second qualifying round of the Europa League in mind, Caulfield initially made three changes to the side that advanced safety through against Linfield at Turner’s Cross last week.
In came Colin Healy, Danny Morrissey and Mark O’Sullivan as Stephen Dooley, Michael McSweeney and Sean Maguire were rested to the bench. McSweeney, though, was then drafted in to the starting XI after Kenny Browne cried off following the warm-up.
Despite the swirling wind and drizzle, Cork got a grip of the game early on, almost punishing a mistake to take a 10th minute lead.
Youths’ keeper Graham Doyle spilled Steven Beattie’s angled shot with Danny Morrissey’s follow-up deflected out for a corner.
Doyle redeemed himself six minutes later, getting down well to hold a shot from O’Sullivan after Gavan Holohan touched a free kick to him.
But it was Youths who really ought to have gone in front, against the run of play, on 20 minutes.
An arcing cross form the right from Aidan Friel picked out the unmarked Jonny Bonner on the far edge of the area. The midfielder met the dropping ball on the full only to see his powerful volley fly wide of Mark McNulty’s goal.
The frame of that very goal would then rescued Cork six minutes later.
Bonner found Paul Murphy on the right whose cross ran through for strike partner Danny Furlong.
Perhaps with too much time, Furlong looked to pick his spot only to see his right-foot curler come back of McNulty’s left-hand post.
They were two missed opportunities Youths would rue as Cork took the lead just two minutes later for what would prove the only goal of the game.
Kevin O’Connor’s blistering free kick had Doyle in trouble as the keeper could only parry the ball away. Midfielder Buckley was alert to the loose ball to tap it home for his second league goal of the season.
A big shout for a penalty from the home side went unheeded by Dublin referee Tomas Connolly 11 minutes into the season half as Murphy was bundled over by Holohan.
Shane Keegan’s side enjoyed plenty of possession as they chased the game, though they didn’t create another chance until the 75th minute, City right-back Steven Beattie bravely blocking a drive from Danny Ledwith
Cork’s first attempt of the second half arrived three minutes later. Substitute Ian Turner’s right flank delivery was met by O’Sullivan whose diving header brought a comfortable save form Doyle.
The Youths keeper then prevented a second City goal six minutes from time with the save of the game, tipping over O’Sullivan’s header from O’Connor’s sublime free kick.
Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Gary Delaney, Stephen Last, Ryan Delaney; Aidan Friel (Eric Molloy 81), Shane Dunne (Andy Mulligan 81), Chris Kenny (Peter Higgins 70), Jonny Bonner, Danny Ledwith; Danny Furlong, Paul Murphy.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie, Alan Bennett, Michael McSweeney, Kevin O’Connor; Colin Healy; Garry Buckley, Gavan Holohan, Gearoid Morrissey (Karl Sheppard 61); Danny Morrissey (Ian Turner 74); Mark O’Sullivan.
Referee: Tomas Connolly (Dublin).
