Draw good enough as Cork City win First Division title at Bray

Bray Wanderers 1 Cork City 1 

Job done, and done with six games to spare. Cork City are Premier Division-bound for 2027.

Their one point here at the Carlisle Grounds against Bray might not have been enough, only that neighbours Cobh Ramblers did Barry Robson’s side a favour by holding UCD to a draw, confirming City’s status as First Division champions on Friday evening.

It’s been a long, unwanted season – even tedious at times – but Cork City have shown the consistency required to ensure that the title fight was never much of a fight at all.

“I'm just so pleased for the players,” said manager Robson after the game. “I think when I first came in here, they looked a bit low, obviously, with the relegation.

“We'd lost a few players and from that first day, when I came in and I met them all, they've been unbelievable. They've got themselves really fit. They've listened to every single thing I've said to them. And you know what? To go and win any league is really, really difficult.

“But to do it in the way we've done it in, what is there, six or seven games left?

“It's never easy that and I'm so proud of the players. Honestly, I really am. I can't speak highly enough for every single one of them.” And while the remaining few weeks will give Robson an opportunity to ease the pressure on his side as they prepare for next year, he made it clear that the fans will be crucial when they go back up.

“We're going to need the fans,” he said. This is a big thing I've got to say. We need that connection. They've been really good this season, but we need to go up as a whole city, as Cork, next year. We do, and we need to be together.

“And that means that when we're not having any good games, we all support each other,” he added. “We're in it together, the whole club.

“And if we do that, we've got a chance of being successful next year. But if we don't, that's when problems arise. So, the connection we've got with the fans and all at the moment, we need to take it next year and we need their support next season.” Friday’s win was one where City had a vocal travelling support, but the Leesiders struggled far more than they have in recent weeks, and were second best for much of the game.

The first half in particular was dictated by the hosts, Ifunanyachi Achara set the tone when he broke through for a dangerous chance inside six minutes, and it would take a further six minutes for the Seagulls to hit the front.

Alain Kizenga slipped away down the flank, squared it to Ben McCormack, and he fed Ajibola Oluwabiyi at the back post, who he slotted home.

Bray continued to mount pressure, as City struggled to create anything in the first 25 minutes. And then, completely against the run of play, Cillian Murphy dinked a beautiful ball over the top to Seani Maguire, who chested it down and fired to the bottom corner leaving it all square.

Immediatel after the equaliser, Bray got back on the charge once again as Achara and Endri Mustali were lively in the pursuit of a second. Although, City came very close to going in front when Rory Feely saw a headed effort rebound off the crossbar in the 38th minute.

Just before half time the hosts had another big opportunity, as McCormack – who was fouled just outside the box by Charlie Lyons – fired narrowly wide from the close-range free kick.

In the second half City were much more assured, despite struggling to create much of note themselves.

Any hopes of Bray finding a way through for the winner were dashed on 71 minutes when John Bilili Sesay was shown a second yellow card for a poorly timed challenge, and the flashpoint that followed only made it worse for Bray.

City were never to be troubled from there.

BRAY WANDERERS (4-2-3-1): Hogan; Kizenga, Duggan, Osagie, O’Shea; Ferizaj, Sesay; Achara (Shelley 81), McCormack (Tucker 74), Oluwabiyi (Ryan 81); Mustali (Sammy 80).

CORK CITY (4-4-2): Brann; Feely, Kelleher, Lyons, Drinan; Murphy, O’Keeffe, Crowley, Mpongo (Fitzpatrick 67); Keating, Maguire.

Referee: L Keating