O’Grady goal ends City’slosing streak

Cork City 1 Derry City 1

Cork needed a rare goal from midfielder Conor O'Grady to cancel out a first half goal from Gary Beckett as Derry put up a typically brave defensive show in an effort to add to the good feeling engendered by their Cup win over Cobh.

O'Grady's goal after 65 minutes was worth waiting for. He struck a brilliant shot high into the net from 30 yards and Cork finally gained a return from a high-energy performance that went some way to compensating for recent losses to Shelbourne in the cup, Waterford in the league and St. Pats in the League Cup.

It needed a good strike to produce a goal, for new goalkeeper Wayne Russell was in sparkling form for Derry. There were, in fact, three debutantes in the game Ryan Casey for Cork; Wayne Russell and Michael Holt for Derry.

All three contributed in an encouraging way, especially goalkeeper Russell who was sharp and decisive. Russell was voted top goalkeeper in the first division last season with Waterford and the Welshman showed excellent form.

Twice he confounded George O'Callaghan in the opening half, holding his powerful shot from 18 yards in the 13th minute and advancing to dive bravely at his feet soon afterwards.

O'Callaghan was the only player to threaten goal with any consistency in a poor first half. He was closest when he narrowly failed to make contact with a speeding cross from Billy Woods in the 43rd minute after a good piece of inter-play between Woods and Casey. Earlier Alan Bennett was just as close with a header following a corner.

Cork found it impossible to shake themselves loose of Derry's tenacious defence in that period, however, a problem that stemmed from the fragmented nature of their football. Virtually every player in a Cork shirt seemed obsessed with trying to hit a scoring pass and there was no obvious pattern to their play.

Derry passed the ball more effectively with Gary Beckett an effective target man for them. They were more fluid in midfield and they showed more patience in their build-up, even if the only time they penetrated was when they scored.

This followed a free against Bennett for a raised foot when he tackled Ciaran Martyn outside the penalty area. Beckett struck his free well and the ball took a deflection off the wall to leave goalkeeper Devine stranded.

Cork's problems in attack were compounded by the consistency with which Derry defenders adopted unfair means to impede them, especially at set-pieces. It was a policy that paid off well for Derry as the referee showed little awareness of what was going on.

Every credit to Cork for their persistence and they played much more effective football in the second half. A big encouragement to them was the improved service to strikers O'Callaghan and O'Flynn, particularly from the left side of the pitch with Casey using the ball well and finding an immediate rapport with Woods.

Derry remain one of the most spirited teams in the league and they defended with great commitment. But they were undone by that superb equalising goal in the 65th minute.

Doyle linked with O'Flynn on the edge of the penalty area and the centre-forward held possession well under the challenge of Paddy McLaughlin. When O'Flynn finally knocked the ball back for Conor O'Grady, the midfielder struck magnificently, high into the roof of the net.

Cork came closest to winning the game when O'Callaghan showed a typical piece of initiative to rob McLaughlin on the dead-ball line in the 73rd minute. O'Callaghan's cross was played to the far upright where Doyle rose high to head powerfully goalwards but he was denied as Russell, yet again, proved equal to the challenge.

Cork City (4-4-2): Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Woods; Doyle, C. T. O'Brien, O'Grady, Casey; O'Flynn, O'Callaghan.

Derry City (4-4-2): Russell (Gough 79); Hutton, McLaughlin, McCrystal, McCallion; McGlynn (Dixon 59), Doherty, Martyn, Hargan; Holt (Moran 75), Beckett.

Referee: Mr I. Stokes (Dublin).