- Philip Morrissey
- Sat, Oct 19 2024
It was a party for Cork City as they celebrated receiving the First Division trophy with a comprehensive win against Wexford on Friday night. Already three up at the break, they added another three in the second half to the delight of their fans. They can now begin planning in advance for the Premier Division next year.
It was a sobering experience for the visitors, though, who had travelled south on the back of an impressive run. They had been chasing shadows for long periods of the game, even at one-nil. Twice hitting the woodwork and missing a last-minute penalty compounded their misery.
Both managers made numerous changes from last weekend. For City, Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Sean Murray, Cathal O’Sullivan, and Seani Maguire all came into the side. John O’Donovan, Niall Brookwell, Barry Coffey, Josh Fitzpatrick, and Aaran Healy all made way. There were even more changes for Wexford. Only Cian O’Malley and Reese Webb kept their places from the side that won away to Finn Harps last weekend, with the play-offs looming.
City have been guilty of starting slowly in games at the Cross this season. No such case this time out. Cian Coleman picked up the ball and played it long towards Ruairi Keating. He beat the offside trap of Divin Isamala before shooting goalwards. It was direct at Conor Walsh, but crept through the Wexford keeper.
It was noticeable how direct City’s attack was on the press whenever Wexford attempted to play out from the back. Cathal O’Sullivan and Malik Dijksteel were picking off any loose balls and feeding them straight into the front line. O’Sullivan set up a chance for Keating, who shot over from a tight angle, before lovely combination play between Seani Maguire and Keating saw the latter shoot just wide on the turn.
A second goal was coming, and it was the impressive O’Sullivan who delivered. Evan McLaughlin won the ball high up the field before playing it into Dijksteel. He held off the attention of three Wexford players before the ball came out to O’Sullivan. He took one touch before smashing it in from the right. Two minutes later, it was three. Maguire collected a raking pass from Greg Bolger before skipping past Lewis Temple and Cian O’Malley, who slipped. The former Ireland striker did not need a second invitation to hammer it past Walsh.
It could have been four as Keating had a chance cleared off the line, and Maguire had a shot blocked. The closest Wexford came was in injury time, as Sean McCale saw his header go just over.
The visitors almost had the perfect start to the second half, as Kian Corbally’s effort from distance crashed off the bar. Otherwise, the home side were in complete control.
O’Sullivan has been the breakout star of the side, and he demonstrated why on the hour. He collected a knockdown with only one thing on his mind. He skipped inside before unleashing a perfect curling effort that nestled into the bottom corner. Cian Murphy and Josh Fitzpatrick had chances saved by Walsh as City threatened to score with every attack. Darragh Crowley then had a chance from a Murphy cross that was tipped over by the netminder.
It was to no avail, though. McLaughlin swung over the resulting set-piece, and Cian Bargary nodded home with his first touch off the bench.
Bargary and Crowley then combined to set up Dijksteel for the sixth, which he bundled home from close range. Wexford came close to a consolation when Conor Curtis was found just inside the area. His first-time effort came back off the bar, though.
The young striker was given a better chance in the final minute. Matthew Kiernan was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area. Curtis stepped up, but his weak effort was palmed away by Wade.
A season unbeaten at home and a trophy to go with it. It also meant that City overtook Wexford as the division’s top goal scorers. There are at least two more games left in the season for the visitors, though, who must shake off this disappointment. Having finished third, it appears they will be facing Bray Wanderers, with the dates yet to be announced.
Cork City: Bradley Wade; Cian Coleman, Darragh Crowley, Charlie Lyons, Evan McLaughlin (Barry Coffey 77); Greg Bolger (Matthew Kiernan 57), Malik Dijksteel (Josh Fitzpatrick 77), Sean Murray, Cathal O'Sullivan (Cian Bargary 63); Ruairí Keating (Cian Murphy 63), Sean Maguire.
Subs not used: Aidan Dowling, John O'Donovan, Arran Healy, Niall Brookwell.
Booked: Cian Coleman (90)
Sent off: None.
Wexford: Conor Walsh; Ethan Boyle, Divin Isamala, Sean McHale, Cian O'Malley (Mark Hanratty 46), Lewis Temple; Kian Corbally, Luka Lovic (Kaylem Harnett 61), Reece Webb (Benjamin Lynch 61); Aaron Dobbs (Cian Curtis 61), Thomas Oluwa (Conor Crowley 69).
Subs not used: Alex Moody, Adam Lennon.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.
Referee: Aaron O’ Dowd.
Attendance: 4268
extratime.com Player of the Match: Cathal O’ Sullivan.
