Cork City 2
Longford Town 0
CORK CITY WILL have the chance to go top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table on Friday night after they overcame Longford Town at Turner’s Cross tonight.
While John Caulfield’s side didn’t produce a sparking display, they were efficient and effective, with goals in each half from Garry Buckley and Colin Healy securing the three points.
As a result, the Leesiders stay two points behind leaders Dundalk ahead of the clubs’ meeting at the Cross in four nights’ time.
In the game’s nascent stages, though, it was Longford who had the best early chance, as Jamie Mulhall’s pass gave Gary Shaw a great chance, and while he clipped his shot over Mark McNulty, it also cleared the crossbar.
Billy Dennehy had a couple of half-chances for City in the first-half but, by and large, they were left frustrated until Buckley broke the deadlock in the 41st minute.
When Dennehy’s cross from the left came back off the post, the midfielder was on hand to head in from close range. Mark O’Sullivan should have doubled the lead two minutes later, heading wide when unmarked — Dennehy again the provider.
Early in the second-half, Dennehy flashed another shot wide and O’Sullivan drew a good save from Paul Skinner. However, the goalkeeper allowed Colin Healy’s free-kick from the left — intended as a delivery — in at the far post and, with a 2-0 advantage, the home team weren’t going to be denied.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor; Colin Healy, Liam Miller (Gavin Holohan, 81); Kieran Djilali (Rob Lehane, 55), Garry Buckley, Bill Dennehy; Mark O’Sullivan (Danny Morrissey, 70).
LONGFORD TOWN: Paul Skinner; Jamie Mulhall, Pat Flynn, Willie Tyrell, Conor Powell; Kaleem Simon, Stephen Rice, Rhys Gorman (Lorcan Shannon, 77), Kevin O’Connor, Martin Deady (Ayman Ben Mohamed, 61); Gary Shaw (David O’Sullivan, 72).
Referee: Jim McKell.
