Report: Bray Wanderers 0 - 3 Cork City

Cork City strolled to victory in tonight’s Premier Division encounter at the Carlisle Grounds. They overcame a poor Bray Wanderers side 3-0 with all the goals coming in the first half.

Cork dominated from the kick-off as Bray struggled to cope with their opponents pace and technical strength. The Leesiders took the lead with their first chance, which came inside two minutes.

Following a Danny Murphy corner on the left, Bray struggled to clear and the ball fell to Liam Kearney. He lifted it into the area for John O’Flynn. The striker controlled before driving the ball across goal. His effort was going wide until George O’Callaghan rushed in at the far post to power the ball into the net from two yards out.

Cork quickly looked to double their advantage and with 14 minutes gone, O’Callaghan and O’Flynn both went close in quick succession. O'Callaghan's deflected free went inches wide and, from the resulting corner, O’Flynn met Danny Murphy’s corner with a strong header but he could not direct it on target.

In the 18th minute, Cork went close once again when Dave Mooney was put through one-on-one with Alan Gough but the debutant made a solid save to deny the Cork forward.

Bray’s first chance of the night came in the 24th minute. Mark Duggan’s pass landed with Patrick Kavanagh and the winger did well to hold off the challenge of Neal Horgan before shooting at goal. Michael Devine made himself big and blocked the chance. The rebound fell to Alan Cawley but his weak effort was easily cleared.

Cork’s dominance continued and in the 30th minute Dave Mooney doubled their advantage. Pat Sullivan played a long ball over the Bray defence and it fell kindly for Mooney who lobbed the advancing Gough from 30-yards.

Four minutes later, Cork added another through Dan Murray. The ball was headed into the box by George O’Callaghan and Liam Kearney volleyed at goal. His effort rebounded off the post but Murray was perfectly placed to tap the ball home from six yards out.

The second half did not start at the same frantic pace and it took six minutes for the first chance. When it came, it fell to Bray’s Kevin Doherty. The central defender made a solid connection with Alan Cawley’s free from the right but his powerful header went straight over.

Bray had another chance in the 60th minute when Patrick Kavanagh robbed centre-back Dan Murray deep in the Cork half. Kavanagh ran through on goal and side-footed the ball from the edge of the area. Michael Devine got down excellently to stop the shot and calmly collect the ball.

Devine made another fine save six minutes later. Alan Cawley played the ball through for sub Emeika Onwubiko and the forward fired low but Devine stopped the ball with an outstretched hand.

Cork’s first real chance of the second half came in the 72nd minute when O’Callaghan’s well-timed pass set O’Flynn through on goal. The forward cut in from the left and shot across goal but his shot struck the foot of the post. The ball landed with Liam Kearney but the winger failed to control and Bray were able to clear.

Cork had settled for the 3-0 win and Bray could not create enough to beat the brilliant Devine. Cork leapfrog Bray with this win and move into fourth on 19 points and they host Shamrock Rovers in their next fixture on Tuesday evening. Bray's outstanding run of late was ended by Sligo Rovers last week and they looked like a team bereft of confidence tonight. They will travel to UCD on Tuesday night as they look to get back on track.

Bray Wanderers: Gough; Derek Pender, Derek Foran, Kevin Doherty (Ray Kenny 57), Gary Cronin; Gavin Whelan (Emeka Onwubiko 46), Colm Tresson, Alan Cawley, Mark Duggan; Paddy Kavanagh, Ger Rowe.
Subs not used: Gavin McInerney, Ronan Ivory, Gary McCabe.

Bookings: Duggan (3), Doherty (14)

Cork City: Michael Devine; Neal Horgan, Dan Murray, Pat Sullivan, Danny Murphy; Darren Murphy, Colin Healy, George O’Callaghan, Liam Kearney (Darragh Ryan 90+4); John O'Flynn (Alan O‘Connor ‘89), Dave Mooney (Denis Behan ‘79).
Subs not used: McNulty, Lordan.

Bookings: Mooney (51), O’Callaghan (69)

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
Attendance: 1,500 (estimate)
Man of the match: John O’Flynn (Cork City).