First half goal sees Cork City fall to defeat in final Premier Division game of the season

Cork City 0 

Derry City 1 

Under the lights at Turner’s Cross on a cold, damp Saturday evening for the final game of the season, Cork City’s Premier Division campaign slipped quietly to its finish line – and true to the pattern that has plagued them from spring to winter, promise and encouragement travelling only so far.

There was shape, there was effort, and defensively they rarely looked exposed, yet the same blunt edge in the final third returned to haunt them. One lapse, one header, and Derry City left with a 1-0 win and the comfort of second place secured.

There were valuable minutes at least for City’s returning trio, as they now brace for next Sunday’s FAI Cup final.

Matthew Murray started before being withdrawn at the interval, Harry Nevin replaced an injured Darragh Crowley in the second half, with Ruairi Keating making his long-awaited return to an applause from the 1,814 in Turner’s Cross.

The first time either goalkeeper was tested came in the 33rd minute. Carl Winchester, sharp to pounce under pressure from Fiacre Kelleher, stepped through the gap and struck early, but Conor Brann gathered without alarm.

Mere seconds later, Derry were in front. Winchester clipped an inviting cross in on the six-yard box, and Michael Duffy had all the space he needed to nod Derry in front.

The visitors almost doubled it soon after, Sadou Diallo racing down the flank before slipping it back to Ronan Boyce. His cross was measured, Gavin Whyte rising to meet it, but Brann got down low to turn the header away.

Just before the break, Derry should have had another. Duffy and Whyte combined neatly to slip Brandon Fleming clear on Cork City’s right, his powerful delivery fizzing across the face of goal. Robert Benson stretched, got a touch, but not enough to steer it into the empty net and it skidded wide on 44 minutes.

On the resumption, the hosts brought the urgency they needed, McLaughlin’s corner delivery on 49 minutes finding Fiacre Kelleher just inside the box. He headed it on for Seani Maguire who was lurking in front of goal, but Brian Maher reacted well to save his header on to the crossbar and out for another corner.

Kitt Nelson had a good cross in find Crowley at the far post, but he couldn’t keep it in with 51 minutes played. Cork City continued plugging for gaps, but found fewer as the second half wore on.

Derry did pull together another decent chance, Duffy weaving his way through space inside the box before firing low to the corner, but Brann got down and made the save, parrying it onto the post before gathering in the 70th minute.

With the exception of that opportunity, the visitors never really looked like getting a second, Cork City looked less likely to find an equaliser, even if they had a few moments in the final minutes.

Sean Murray had a strike from outside the box deflected out for a corner, a 90th minute Evan McLaughlin corner delivery almost found Kelleher in the box, but again the Leesiders failed to make the most of it.

The opening stages passed with minimal fuss, Derry seeing more of the ball but neither side registering any shots on goal. Cork City were inching forward in fits and starts, only for a loose touch or hurried pass to break the spell. The problems that have stalked them all season, there once again.

Even with a brief improvement in the second half, Ger Nash’s side settled into that uncomfortable rhythm, the clock winding down without any sharpness up front, and they succumbed to the wound Duffy inflicted in the first half.

CORK CITY (5-2-3): Brann; Crowley (Nevin 52 inj), Feely (Lyons 65), Kelleher (c), Anderson, Kiernan; McLaughlin, Bolger (S Murray 65); M Murray (Nelson HT), Maguire (Keating 65), Fitzpatrick.

DERRY CITY (5-2-3): Maher; Boyce, Stott, Todd, Dummingan, Fleming; Winchester, Benson (Cann 81); Diallo (Frizzel 81), Duffy (c), Whyte (Mullen 65).

Referee: N Doyle