League Report: Derry City 0 - 1 Cork City

CORK City return to Leeside with a deserved three points after defeating a very much under par Derry City 1-0 at the Brandywell on Sunday afternoon.

In a game of football lacking in any real quality it was a matter of the slightly less poor team triumphing over a home side that will be very disappointed with their performance. The quality of the Brandywell pitch played a considerable part in the lack of flowing football.

The first half was a very scrappy affair with little action of note to get excited about. In fact it wasn't until the 27th minute that there was even a real chance. Billy Dennehy delivered a ball into the box and Dan Murray’s firm header was scrambled off the line by Barry Molloy.

A minute later, at the other end, Rory Patterson found himself bearing down on goal but his shot brought a smart save out of McNulty. In the 31st minute Mark Stewart slipped Patrick McEleney through and he tried to delicately curl it in towards the far post but once again McNulty was alert.

A quickly taken Colin Healy free kick for Cork caught the Derry backline napping but O'Sullivan couldn't quite get on the end of it and Doherty retrieved it. Half time was then blown and neither side could have any real complaints with the scoreline in a drab opening period.

Derry began the second half without their inspirational centre half Ryan McBride who departed injured replaced by Dean Jarvis. Again there wasn't much of note to report until the visitors opened the scoring. Billy Dennehy sent in an inviting cross and found the head of his brother Darren who made no mistake from a couple of yards. Derry sent on Michael Duffy as they chased the game but Cork were quite comfortable defending their lead.

Rory Patterson’s frustration boiled over in the 80th minute as he went through Billy Dennehy collecting a yellow card. Dan Murray took exception to this and was booked himself two minutes later for fouling Patterson. From then on in Cork easily dealt with Derry’s attempts to get back in the game and saw the match out with relative ease.

John Caulfield will be delighted taking away three points and dealing with the home side so easily. Roddy Collins has an awful lot to think about with his new team as they seemed to lack width, urgency and quality all afternoon.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Roddy Collins, Cliff Byrne (c), Ryan McBride (Dean Jarvis 46), Aaron Barry; Patrick McEleney (Michael Duffy 59), Barry Molloy, Danny Ventre, Mark Stewart (Shane McEleney 76); Enda Curran, Rory Patterson.
Subs not used: Ciaran Gallagher, Mark Timlin, Raymond Foy, Ryan Curran.

Booked: Rory Patterson (81).

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Brian Lenihan, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Gary Buckley; Liam Kearney (John Kavanagh 58), Gearoid Morrissey, Colin Healy, Darren Murphy (c), Billy Dennehy (David O'Leary 87); Mark O'Sullivan.
Subs not used: Matthew Gledhill, Andy O'Connell, Kevin Mulcahy, Robert Lehane, Ian Turner.

Booked: Dan Murray (83).

Referee: Neil Doyle .

Attendance: 1,100 (estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match:Dan Murray (Cork City).