Stubborn Cork City hold Derry to scoreless draw

Derry City 0 Cork City 0 

It was no spectacle, and rarely easy on the eye — but Cork City won’t mind after picking up a crucial League of Ireland Premier Division point on the road against Derry City at The Brandywell on Friday evening.

Josh Fitzpatrick chased lost causes, Rory Feely was flawless at the heart of the defence, and Harry Nevin, after a shaky start, turned in his best showing to date. It was dogged, disciplined, and exactly what the situation demanded. A big point to take home.

It leaves Cork City seven behind Sligo Rovers, who go on Sunday.

Ger Nash’s side never looked like scoring – that much is true – but there’s no arguing with the discipline. Derry, for all their pressure, were held to just two shots on target. A defensive performance as good as Cork City have produced all season.

The Rebel Army were second best for long stretches of the opening half, their issues on restarts leaving them starved of possession. But while they ceded territory and the bulk of the ball, their compact defensive shape gave Derry little by way of clear openings.

The hosts enjoyed sustained spells in Cork City's half, but the final pass or shot often lacked conviction. Their clearest sight came on 24 minutes when Brandon Fleming found Gavin Whyte wide on the right. He cut inside and stood one up to the far post for Adam O’Reilly, whose header tailed just wide.

The warning signs were mounting. Three minutes later, another wasteful Conor Brann ball was intercepted by Liam Boyce and nodded on, sending Michael Duffy through, but his effort curled past the far upright.

Duffy had the better of his duel with Nevin in the first half, and while City managed to clear his 34th-minute delivery, Sadou Diallo picked up the loose ball on the edge of the area, though his effort never looked like beating Brann.

Bar a few corners that forced Brann to come off his line to clear the danger, as well as a glaring headed miss from Boyce in the 41st minute, Derry’s pressure largely dissipated as the half drew to a close – Cork City, for all their struggles, deservedly still on level terms at the break, despite having one attempt to Derry’s 11.

With Derry still unable to find a way through after the restart, Cork City began to grow into the contest. Fitzpatrick remained their most willing runner, carrying ball and intent in equal measure, but too often he found himself isolated, support slow to arrive with so many teammates committed to holding their defensive shape.

By the 64th minute, Derry had little to show for their second-half pressure. Danny Mullen’s low ball across the face of goal was as close as they came, fizzed through the six-yard box, but untouched.

If there were cracks in City’s defensive shape earlier, they had long since closed.

As Derry’s frustration mounted, Cork City were in no rush to ease it. Slowing restarts, breaking up play, and doing just enough to keep their opponents from ever finding a proper rhythm.

A rare Cork lapse in the 87th minute saw the ball break kindly for Dipo Akinyemi, but his finish lacked conviction and was veering wide before Freddie Anderson stepped in to make sure.

There was one final push from the visitors, Alex Nolan had an ambitious effort in the 93th minute deflected out for a corner, but McLaughlin’s delivery in was dealt with by Brian Maher.

DERRY CITY: Maher; Stott, Connolly, Cann; Fleming (Mullen 62), Winchester, Diallo (R Boyce 72), O’Reilly; Duffy, Whyte (Doherty 62); L Boyce (Akinyemi 54).

CORK CITY: Brann; Kiernan, Feely, Anderson, Nevin; Crowley, McLaughlin; Fitzpatrick, Nelson (Kamara 73), Nolan; Maguire (c) (Lutz 81 (Couto 90+6 inj)).

Referee: D Toland (Athlone)