League Report: Cork City 3 - 0 Derry City

Cork City powered to a convincing victory against Derry City tonight in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division tonight in front of 5,275 spectators in Turners Cross.

The opening was a dull affair until Gary Buckley opened the scoring after 35 minutes. The second half saw City capitalise on poor defending with Sean Maguire and Karl Sheppard adding to their respective tallies.

Cork City went unchanged from the side that defeated Limerick 3-0 last week, with their only change coming on the bench with Steven Beattie replacing Alex Byrne.

Derry on the other hand had to contend with an injury problem with Rory Patterson and Barry McNamee being replaced in the team by Mikhail Kennedy and Harry Monaghan respectively.

The opening ten minutes of this televised clash had little of note with the only moment of note occurring on five minutes with the whole crowd joining in a minute’s applause for Ryan McBride.

Both ‘keeepers then saw action with Sean Maguire going on one of many dangerous runs through the defence where he saw his shot saved by Gerard Doherty who passed a late fitness test to start this clash.

Nicky Low had one of the visitors many shots from distance in the first half with Mark McNulty holding the shot on 12 minutes. Mikhail Kennedy and Nathan Boyle both had attempts but the City custodian was equal to both efforts.

The home crowd livened up as the floodlights were turned on after half an hour with Kevin O’Connor seeing his free from the edge of the box tipped over the bar for a corner.

But the home team were looking more dangerous, and they took the lead on 35 minutes. Stephen Dooley picked the ball up on the sideline before dribbling past Lucas Schubert before crossing to Garry Buckley who beat Dean Jarvis into the box allowing him to flick the ball into the net for his second goal in as many games.

The rest of the half was played out at a good pace with Maguire firing over from the edge of the box as both sides went for the tunnel.

City knew coming out into the second half that they had a chance to equal a club record of eight straight wins at the start of the season set back in the 1998/1999 season.

Karl Sheppard had a shot blocked for a corner on 50 minutes but he was to go one step better on 54 minutes.

Gearóid Morrissey won possession in the centre of the field and from his own half he played a superb ball to Karl Shepherd who split the Derry defence allowing Sheppard to fire low underneath Doherty for his fourth league goal of the season on 55 minutes.

Boyle had a half chance for the visitors but the momentum was now all with City who increased the lead further on 65 minutes. A Conor McDermott clearance rebounded off Nicky Low falling to Maguire who turned on six pence before shooting past Doherty for his eight league goal in eight games.

Two minutes later Buckley nearly had his second goal when superb backheels from both Maguire and Sheppard set up the midfielder but his shot was saved by Doherty.

O’Connor again went close from a free kick on 79 minutes as City looked to further extend the lead, but Aaron McEneff had a late shot from distance superbly saved by McNulty.

City pressed at the end for another goal but it wasn’t to arrive but they wouldn’t mind as they now focus on creating a club record away to Bohemians next Friday.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Jimmy Keohane, Alan Bennett, Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Conor McCormack, Gearóid Morrissey (Connor Ellis 81); Karl Sheppard (Steven Beattie 76), Garry Buckley, Stephen Dooley (Shane Griffin 84); Sean Maguire.

Subs not used: Alan Smith (gk), John Kavanagh, Christian Nanetti, Conor McCarthy,

Yellow Cards: McCormack (16), Keohane (75).

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Lucas Schubert (Mark Timlin 61), Conor McDermott, Dean Jarvis, Aaron Barry; Aaron McEneff, Nicky Low; Nathan Boyle (Josh Daniels 61), Harry Monaghan, Ronan Curtis; Mikhail Kennedy.

Subs not used: Eric Grimes (gk), Sam Todd, Ben Doherty, Scott Whiteside, Alon Netzer

Yellow Cards: Low (38), Curtis (53).

Referee: Robert Harvey

Attendance: 5,275

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Conor McCormack (Cork City)