Cork City – Derry City

Recap

Cork City returned to the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division today after a 4-2 win over Derry.

The Leesiders now sit one point clear of second placed Dundalk with two league games to go until the mid-season break.

John Caulfield made two changes to the side that beat Waterford last Friday. Conor McCarthy came in for Alan Bennett while Karl Sheppard started in place fo the suspended Conor McCormack.

City attacked from the opening whistle, and got their reward after just seven minutes. Graham Cummins cross from the left was guided home by the head of Sheppard, leaving Gerard Doherty with no chance.

The rest of the first half lacked any real clear cut chances. City did carve out the occasional opening, but Barry McNamee and Jimmy Keohane both sent efforts high and wide.

Sheppard made it a brace just after the restart. A City counter attack fell to Garry Buckley and he played a perfect pass to put Sheppard through one on one. His left footed strike was too good for Doherty, as City looked confident in securing three points.

The away side didn’t give up. In the 65th minute, Ronan Curtis strike from distance deflected past Mark McNulty give the Candystripes a glimmer of hope. The equaliser came just five minutes later. Ronan Hale found himself with room to shoot 8 yards out and drove a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.

The goals didn’t stop there, as the Rebel Army regained the lead within three minutes. After Buckley was fouled 25 yards out, Kieran Sadlier stepped up to curl his free around the wall and into the back of the net.

The home fans’ nerves eased when Cummins netted his fourteenth goal of the season in the 82nd minute. McNulty launched the ball to City’s front line and Cummins raced onto it, headed the ball off the crossbar. It bounced back kindly for the striker, who nodded it in on the second time of asking.