League Report: Cork City 4 - 0 Bray Wanderers

Cork City closed the gap to Dundalk at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division as they defeated Bray Wanderers at Turners Cross on Tuesday night.

First half goals from Gearoid Morrissey and Gavan Holohan, swiftly followed in the second period by strikes from Kenny Browne and a Sean Maguire penalty was enough to deservedly hand Cork the three points.

City made one change to the side that comprehensively defeated Longford Town with Garry Buckley replacing the suspended captain Greg Bolger, who accumulated his fifth yellow card of the season on Friday night.

And it was the hosts would made the brighter start as they took the lead after just 13 minutes.

Striker Sean Maguire picked out Gearoid Morrissey at the edge of the Bray penalty area before the midfielder composed himself and drilled the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.

Bray came into the game in fine form having failed to register a single defeat in their last nine league games, a run that has seen them move up to ninth place, but crucially six points clear of a relegation play-off spot.

Although Dylan Connolly’s pace caused problems down the left hand side, it wasn’t until midway through the first half that they had their first attempt on target and it almost resulted in the equaliser.

The ball fell kindly on the edge of the City box for Wanderers’ Mark Salmon, but the midfielder’s fierce strike was brilliantly tipped around the post by Cork goalkeeper Mark McNulty.

Sean Maguire and Kevin O’Connor looked to impress in front of the Republic of Ireland under 21 management team of Noel King, Carlo Cudicini and Mark Kinsella, who were watching on from the stands ahead of next week’s fixtures.

And it was O’Connor who helped put the game all but beyond Bray Wanderers just before half time as his pin point cross from the left flank found the head of Gavan Holohan, who expertly nodded the ball into the far bottom left corner.

The Leesiders began the second half in a similar manner to how they finished the first as they blew Bray away with a couple of quick fire goals.

Defender Kenny Browne made it three when he bundled Stephen Dooley’s corner over the line from close range before Dooley again turned provider, winning a penalty which Sean Maguire coolly slotted into the bottom left corner.

Bray came close to reducing the deficit midway through the second period but following Karl Moore’s excellent free kick from the left wing and substitute Ger Pender’s looping header to the far corner, City stand in skipper Alan Bennett acrobatically cleared the ball off the line.

With the game drawing to a close, Cork almost grabbed their fifth of the evening after an sumptuous, attacking move.

On the break, Mark O’Sullivan fed Garry Buckley who instantly clipped the ball through to Stephen Dooley but the winger’s strike was deflected over by the on rushing Peter Cherrie from the Bray goal.

The resulting corner saw O’Sullivan power a header off the underside of the cross-bar and the relieved Cherrie gathered the ball before it crossed the line.

Cork City: Mark McNulty, Kenny Browne (Dave Mulcahy 60), Alan Bennett, Gavan Holohan, Steven Beattie, Kevin O’Connor, Gary Buckley, Stephen Dooley, Gearoid Morrissey (Colin Healy 60), Karl Sheppard, Sean Maguire (Mark O’Sullivan 64).

Subs Not Used: Matthew Connor, Danny Morrissey, Michael McSweeney, Chiedozie Ogbene.

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie, Hugh Douglas, John Sullivan, Connor Kenna, Mark Salmon, Karl Moore, Dylan Connolly, Kevin Lynch (Alan Kehoe 63), Tim Clancy, Darragh Noone (Jason Marks 83), Chris Lyons (Ger Pender 63).

Subs Not Used: Lee Steacy, Alan McNally, Paul Finnegan, Gareth McDonagh.

Referee: Tomas Connolly.

Attendance: 1,715.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gavan Holohan (Cork City).