Bray Wanderers 0-3 Cork City

Cork City moved up to sixth in the Premier Division standings on Friday night after easing to a comfortable 3-0 win over Bray Wanderers – Tadhg Purcell, Shane Duggan and Vinny Sullivan all getting on the score sheet.

Photography: Peadar O’Sullivan

Manager Tommy Dunne made two changes to the team that secured a late 2-2 draw against Derry City last time out with John Dunleavy returning to midfield following suspension and Purcell getting the nod to start up front. Ian Turner and Davin O’Neill dropped to the bench.

City went ahead with just five minutes gone when Purcell headed home Daryl Horgan’s cross from the left. Mark McNulty was called on to save efforts from Kevin Knight and Sean Houston before the visitors had two great chances to extend their advantage. Purcell’s header from a Gearoid Morrissey corner was first saved by Darren Quigley before Horgan blasted a long-range effort wide of the keeper’s posts.

The Leesiders would eventually make their pressure count and Duggan made it two goals in two games when poked home Colin Healy’s cross after being found unmarked in the box just after the half-hour mark.

McNulty, again, was at his best to save a fine shot from Marty Waters three minutes before the break before former Ireland international Jason Byrne fired a free-kick opportunity well over during added time.

Purcell went close again minutes into the second half – sending an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box on 49 minutes – but it was Bray that upped the tempo initially as they desperately tried to force their way back into the encounter.

Houston’s effort straight at McNulty was their best effort, however, and when Sullivan netted City’s third on 65 minutes, the contest was well and truly over. Purcell and Duggan combined well in the build up and the in-form striker rounded Quigley before rolling the ball into an empty net.

Sullivan was then replaced by O’Neill while Kevin Murray made his first appearance since re-joining the club over the winter – the centre half replacing Gavin Kavanagh to get some valuable game time following his recovery from knee surgery.

Morrissey might have made it four when a great ball from substitute Stephen Kenny put him through – only for Quigley to produce a fine save. However, there would be no happy ending for U19′s starlet Kenny, who saw red for a second yellow shortly before the full-time whistle.

Next up: Cork City v Bohemians, next Sunday (July 8th, 6pm).

Cork City: McNulty, Healy, Kavanagh (Murray ‘79), Spillane, Murphy,  Morrissey, Dunleavy, Duggan, D Horgan, Purcell (Kenny ‘75), Sullivan (O’Neill ‘65).

Subs: Burns, Turner, Murray, Horgan.

Bray Wanderers: Quigley, Doyle, D O’Connor, S O’Connor (Mitchell ‘75), Massey, Waters, Zambra, Mulroy, Houston, Knight (Hanlon ‘46), Byrne (Hurley ‘70).

Subs: Kane, Bolger, Butler, Sweeney.

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