Cork City sit top of table after win over Longford Town

Longford Town were poor in the second half and offered very little.

TOP OF TABLE: Jack Doherty got Cork City's second goal of the evening. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Longford Town 0 

Cork City 2 (McLaughlin 59', Doherty 76')

Cork City moved to the top of the First Division table with victory over Longford Town at Bishopsgate on Saturday night.

Town were architects of their own downfall as two mistakes gifted City their goals. In the 59th minute a poor clearance fell to Sean Murray, he played the ball into Evan McLaughlin and he fired to the net.

The visitors doubled their advantage in the 76th minute; another mistake from the home side which former Town player Jack Doherty finished.

The home side had the better of the limited chances in the first half. Bastien Hery should’ve done well with his effort in the sixth minute. Three minutes later Dean George hit the post with a low effort.

Greg Bolger shot over in the 11th minute for the visitors while the next chance fell to Murray in the 25th minute; Nathan Wood played a neat ball to Murray but his effort was poor.

In the 36th minute Town were awarded a free-kick; Conor Crowley took the shot but City keeper Bradley Wade was equal to the strike. Approaching half-time the visitors enjoyed possession but the home side defended well.

City came out with a real purpose in the second half. In the 49th minute Town keeper Jack McCarthy denied John Donovan and in the 54th minute the Town netminder pulled off a fantastic save from a Murray header.

The visitors’ pressure was to pay off just before the hour mark when they broke the deadlock through McLaughlin. Town keeper McCarthy was the busier keeper in the second half and made a fine save from Cathal O’Sullivan in the 71st minute.

City doubled their lead in the 76th minute through Doherty. Town were poor in the second half and offered very little; Wade was not called into making a save of note after the break.

Longford Town: McCarthy; Elworthy, Egan, Hand, O’Connor; Crowley (Serdeniuk 68), Hery, WaTown were poor in the second half and offered very littlede-Slater (Chambers 68), Wixted (Boudiaf 67); Lyons, George (Clarke ht).

Cork City: Wade; Nevin, Coleman, Lyons, O’Donovan; Bolger (Healy 80), McLaughlin, S Murray, O’Suliivan (M Murray 89), Wood, Doherty (Umeh 87) 

Referee: Jamie Hamill (Scotland)