Byrne joins Morley and thwarts City

Jason Byrne joined Cork legend Pat Morley in second place on the all-time League of Ireland goalscorers’ list as his 182nd goal saw Bray Wanderers come back from a goal down to earn a deserved point at Turner’s Cross last night.

It looked like Tadhg Purcell’s early goal might have been enough for Cork to earn a first league win of the season but Byrne’s excellent finish 15 minutes from time when he clinically finished from the edge of the box after being put through by John Mulroy leaves Cork languishing at the wrong end of the table.

Cork manager Tommy Dunne made five changes from the side that lost to Derry City at The Brandywell last Friday.

Out went, Gavin Kavanagh, Shane O’Connor, Davin O’Neill, Vinny Sullivan and flu victim John Dunleavy and they were replaced by Kalen Spillane, Jamie Murphy, Purcell, Colin Healy and Shane Duggan, who was returning from suspension.

Bray boss Pat Devlin had to field a makeshift back four as Dane Massey was suspended after being sent off in last week’s defeat against Drogheda and his defensive partner Adam Mitchell missed out after being concussed in that game.

The omens didn’t look good for Bray going into the tie having won only one of the previous 10 meetings between the sides and they found themselves one down after three minutes.

The move started when Healy made a great tackle to deny Kieran Waters inside the box just as the Bray man was about the shoot. City broke quickly and Daryl Horgan threaded a ball through to Purcell in the box, and he calmly clipped the ball over the outrushing Darren Quigley.

Purcell has struggled with his fitness since signing for Cork on loan from Northampton Town shortly before the start of the season but he’s beginning the look much sharper over the last few games and it was the striker’s second goal for the club having scored his first in Monday’s 5-1 rout of Wexford Youths in the EA Sports Cup.

Kalen Spillane, who was making his first Premier Division start, came to the home side’s rescue after 19 minutes when he made a great block to deny Adam Hanlon a certain equaliser after a great run from Kevin Knight as Bray began to come more into the game.

Jamie Murphy, who was also starting a Premier Division game for the first time then went close but his left footed shot was pushed around his post by Quigley.

Bray had shouts for a penalty turned down at the start of the second half when Ian Turner clashed with Waters in the box but referee Tom Connolly was having none of it. Shane Duggan was then dispossessed by Sean Houston who gave the ball to Byrne but his shot was well saved by Mark McNulty.

Bray were dominating possession now but substitute Davin O’Neill nearly got a second for Cork midway through the half following a quick counter attack but Quigley made a great save with his legs to deny the Cobh man after a great run from Horgan.

The equaliser did come 15 minutes from time when Byrne scored his record equalling goal as City’s winless run continues.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Turner, Spillane, D Murray, D Murphy; Healy, Duggan, G Morrissey; D Horgan, Purcell, J Murphy (O’Neill 57).

BRAY WANDERERS: Quigley; Webster, Sweeney, O’Connor, Knight; Hanlon, Zambra, Mulroy, Houston, Waters (Bolger 86); J Byrne (Kelty 88).

Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).