Kilduff strikes to keep Cork moving in right direction

Bray Wanderers 1 Cork City 2

Both sides had early chances when first, Cork striker Danny Morrissey shot straight at Bray keeper Darren Quigley, while at the other end Marty Waters sent an effort for the Seagulls just over the bar.

Cork took the lead on seven minutes when Ian Turner picked up a loose ball in midfield and rifled home from 25 yards with the outside of his right foot past the diving Quigley.

Bray had a let-off on 10 minutes when Cork striker Kilduff and Danny Morrisey had instant efforts brilliantly saved one-handed by Quigley, with Ian Turner’s shot on the rebound then blocked by skipper Danny O’Connor.

Cork might have stretched their lead when Kilduff fired wide after skipper Dan Murray set up the opportunity with a long ball from the back.

Bray, impressive on breakaway raids, were level on 17 minutes when a precise Waters cross from the left was firmly headed home from six yards at the far post by Nigerian striker Ismahil Akinade. Early in the second half, Bray had an opportunity to take the lead when an Akinade’s cross from the right was headed goalwards by Gary Dempsey, but Cork keeper Mark McNulty comfortably gathered.

Dempsey again went close when shooting just past the right-hand upright from the edge of the box on 56 minutes after Akinade had created the opening.

Cork countered when a Turner corner on the right was skied wide of the target by Murray at the back post.

Bray twice went close when first Dempsey had a shot deflected for a corner and then Akinade was narrowly wide of the target with a long-range effort.

But it was Cork who sealed the points on 80 minutes when Kilduff bounced past the challenge of Danny O’Connor to fire a low, angled shot from the right past the diving Quigley.

BRAY WANDERERS: D Quigley, Webster, D O’Connor (Knight 87), Cooney (Earley 37), S Quigley; Akinade, Dempsey, Zambra, K O’Connor, Waters; Byrne (Mulroy 45).

CORK CITY: McNulty; Horgan, Murray, Buckley, Murphy (Healy 70); Duggan, G Morrissey, Dunleavy; Turner (Kavanagh 74); D Morrissey (Kenny 81), Kilduff.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).