Cork City leave it late to snatch win in Wexford
Ruairí Keating and teammates celebrate Cork City's first goal in their win over Wexford Picture: Patrick Browne
Another three points picked up – six wins in a row now for Cork City – but this one against Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park was very, very fortunate for Barry Robson’s men.
“Listen, the game was poor tonight, if I'm 100% honest with it,” Robson said after the win. “I didn't think we were really good in the first half, I don't think they were [either].
“I think you saw the wind, that had a real difference in the game. I think the pitch was sticky. I'm not going to use excuses, I thought we were poor. It looked like it took us to the last 10 minutes for us to really spark into life. And that's the way the game was tonight.” They grabbed the goals in the final 10 minutes but only after a couple of hairy moments at the other end. Conor Brann had to come off his line and dispossess Mikie Rowe to deny a goal chance, while both Ryan Ritchie and Max Murphy forced saves from Brann in the 76th minute.
Ryan Butler would see a chance cleared off the line by Greg Bolger in the 82nd minute as the hosts continued to fight for the winner, but then City finally struck.
Niall O’Keeffe crossed from deep, substitute Ruairí Keating rose highest, and Paul Martin couldn’t keep it out in the 85th minute.
Then two minutes later, Mpongo had a ball in come off the crossbar, and then hit Max Murphy, before going in. The Dutchman was awarded the goal, and City sealed the victory.
“That wind was really difficult tonight,” Robson said. “We couldn't get out, it was a big pitch and it was windy. And we've got six starting players not playing here. I think people need to remember that.
“So I've got to give some of them players in there real credit for coming in and managing to win that game of football. So people need to remember that.
“I think even with them doing well in the first half, they didn't really have a chance.
“There was one chance in the second half there, I thought. And we didn't have any real chances either. So what I said to the players was, I was pleased for all the young players we've got there.
“It's a real experience for them. And just glad that we won the game.” On many occasions in this First Division slog that Cork City condemned themselves to for 2026, they’ve gone it at the interval left wondering how they weren’t a goal, if not two, ahead.
But on Friday night’s game at Ferrycarrig Park, they were left stunned as to how they weren’t trailing at the break.
Their contest at this very venue back in February saw the Leesiders turn up and dominate from the start, but the opposite unfolded here. Wexford were immense from the first whistle, and showed no signs of losing their grip.
But while it was a complete reversal of the previous clash at Ferrycarrig – where City led 2-0 at the break on that occasion – Wexford had nothing to show for their efforts here.
Harnett set up former Cobh Ramblers forward Mikie Rowe for a chance inside four minutes that he snapped wide, and while it set the tone for the entire half, they couldn’t break the deadlock.
The hosts were aggressive and pressed hard, constantly forcing turnovers and preventing their opponents from finding any rhythm. City were still without a shot after 30 minutes, though Wexford struggled for clear-cut openings.
Early after the restart, City finally managed an opportunity. O’Keeffe moving it to Mpongo and he set up Bolger for a chance, but it was way off target.
In the 53rd minute, Wexford were back on the attack again with Ryan Butler conjuring up an opportunity. They should have hit the net seven minutes later when Doyle set up Rowe, but his effort was straight at Brann.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Cork City found life and broke Wexford hearts.
Martin; Hand, Butler, McCourt; Murphy, Harnett, Doyle, Verdon (Shuntaro Doyle 87), Wynne; Ritchie (Hodgins 87), Rowe.
Brann; Lyons, Kelleher, O’Connor; Drinan, O’Keeffe, Bolger, Bridge (Obenge 63), Murphy; Murray (Keating 77), Mpongo.
P Norton (Dublin)
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