League Report: Cork City 0 - 0 Derry City

Cork City dropped two points in their pursuit of league honours at home to Derry City on Friday night in front of 2,380 fans in Turner’s Cross. The home side lacked a cutting edge while Derry played better than their current league position indicates and were it not for Ciaran O’Connor being unable to direct one of his chances into the net it could have been a very different story.

These two sides met 11 days ago with City winning 3-0 thanks to goals from Ross Gaynor, Gary Buckley and John O’Flynn. From the side that progressed to the semi finals of the Irish Daily Mail Cup facing Bray Wanderers next Sunday in the Carlisle Grounds.

Manager John Caulfield made two changes to the side with John O’Flynn and Alan Bennett starting in place of Darren Dennehy and Mark O’Sullivan with the latter ruled out with an ankle ligament injury but it is hoped with physio treatment that he will be available for the clash next week.

Derry City made three changes to the side that defeated Shamrock Rovers in the Brandywell 1-0 last Friday with Shaun Patton going in between the sticks in place of Ger Doherty and Rob Cornwall and Barry McNamee in the starting 11 instead of Patrick McEleney and Philip Lowry.

On this very day six years ago Dan Murray had to appeal on local radio to get the funds in place to get a bus to play St. Patrick’s Athletic. For the opposition they had to score a league goal against Cork City in any of the league games under John Caulfield.

The visitors had the better of the opening half with Conor McCormack and O’Connor having two clear cut opportunities with the home side struggling to create many chances due to them struggling with the offside line.

Derry had the first shot of the game on five minutes when McCormack saw his shot saved by Mark McNulty in the City goal. Derry was playing into the St. Anne’s end during the opening half.

But it was at the other end of the ground that Shaun Patton had to be at full stretch to deny O’Flynn after he was played in by Billy Dennehy who capitalised on Aaron Barry’s slip.

Minutes later some last ditch defending from Derry denied Dennehy with a shot from distance going for a corner after good build up from Karl Sheppard.

O’Connor should really have scored on 20 minutes when Stephen Dooley got in behind the City defence before crossing to the on loan Dundalk player but he couldn’t get any power into the shot and McNulty saved from close range. Seconds later O’Connor shot wide from 16 yards after a wonderful through ball from McNamee but the ball trickled inches wide of the City post.

The remainder of the half saw Derry in control as City were getting frustrated with many of their passes going to an offside O’Flynn something that was annoying the City backroom staff.

On 32 minutes Buckley headed wide from a Ross Gaynor cross but that was to be the extent of the opening half’s entertainment as Derry controlled the majority of possession.

The second half saw City start much better and they had two very good attempts on goal but Patton was equal to both efforts. Firstly Gaynor’s cross found O’Flynn but he could only head straight at the keeper from 6 yards and then on 52 minutes a corner fell to Buckley but his shot from 10 yards was again straight at Patton.

John Caulfield changed things up shortly afterwards introducing Steven Beattie in place of O’Flynn with Sheppard going up front and Beattie on the wing.

Derry City didn’t enjoy as much possession as they had in the opening half with but O’Connor nearly found a breakthrough on 69 minutes when he gathered a loose pass from Bennett only to see his shot blocked by Murray.

They really should have scored on 82 minutes but for some heroic defending by the City defence with Dooley’s cross finding Morrison who saw his header against his former club tipped away by McNulty to O’Connor but Bennett threw himself in front of the ball to block the shot from point blank range before City cleared the ball.

Substitute Danny Morrissey had a late chance on 89 minutes to claim the three points for City but he could only head his free header from close range wide following a brilliant cross from Beattie.

This point will prove more vital to Derry’s season than Cork’s as this is a vital point keeping them away from relegation while for City it is dropped points as Dundalk all but have the league title wrapped up for the second year running.

Next up for City will be the cup game to Bray on Sunday week while Derry will face them the Friday after in the league.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Michael McSweeney, Dan Murray (Kevin O’Connor 73), Alan Bennett, Ross Gaynor; Liam Miller, John Dunleavy; Karl Sheppard (Danny Morrissey 85), Gary Buckley, Billy Dennehy; John O’Flynn (Steven Beattie 65)

Subs not used: Alan Smith, Gavan Holohan, Liam Kearney, Stephen Folan

Derry City: Shaun Patton; Ben McLaughlin (Aaron McEniff 54), Aaron Barry, Ryan McBride, Dean Jarvis; Mark Timlin (Cillian Morrison 69), Conor McCormack, Barry McNamee, Rob Cornwall,  Barry McNamee,  Stephen Dooley; Ciaran O’Connor (Mark Quigley 90)

Subs not used: Conor Brady, Josh Daniels, Patrick McClean, Ryan Curran

Yellow Cards: McBride (32), Cornwall (44), McCormack (89)

Referee: Tomas Connolly (Dublin)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ryan McBride (Derry City)

Attendance: 2,380