Seani Maguire header makes it three wins in a row for Cork City
Sean Maguire of Cork City, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's winning goal against Bray Wanderers. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Cork City’s winning streak moves to three. Dominant in performance but not on the scoreboard. Still, defeat inflicted on Bray Wanderers, leaving Barry Robson’s side top and two points clear.
Josh Fitzpatrick’s clean cross and Seani Maguire’s header home gave the game its only goal not to be ruled out by the offside flag on Friday evening.
The hosts were the better side from start to finish in front of 3,175 at Turner’s Cross. Despite the scoreline, City were never in doubt, though they will lament the missed opportunities, particularly in that first half.
The opening 30 minutes were utterly dominated by City, yet they had only one goal to show for it. Fitzpatrick raced down the right flank and floated one in for Maguire, which he headed home at the near post in the 14th minute.
They had been threatening early, just 30 seconds of football had passed before the hosts got their first shot away, Darragh Crowley’s first-time strike flying over the bar after Cillian Murphy had set him up.
And that man, Murphy, was so influential for City. Again.
After a lively showing last week against Wexford, he was even more entertaining here, treating the home crowd to a couple of first-half nutmegs to go with the clever link up play in the final third, earning himself the man of the match award.
Strikers Ruairí Keating and Seani Maguire were threatening in that first period too, Keating registering two shots in the opening six minutes, but it was the latter who nudged City in front early.
Cork City’s wing-backs pushed up to form a front five for the majority of the contest, and they pressed and harried Bray at every opportunity. The visitors had no answer for it.
Declan Osagie played Sean Brennan through for the visitors’ only real chance in that opening 30 minutes, but Brann saved comfortably. Even after netting the goal to go in front, City kept the pressure on, Mpongo’s 21st minute strike going out for a corner that Kelleher almost headed home following Bolger’s cross.
Keating and Crowley would both come close, and the hosts would find the net again in the 24th minute – from that same combination – Fitzpatrick to Maguire, but the linesman’s flag ruled it out.
It was only at this stage Bray were able to find room to breathe, but they were still fortunate not to concede a second when Ryan Kelly’s defensive error left Maguire with possession in front of a gaping goal, but the City forward couldn’t beat the angle.
Even as the hosts’ dominance waned as the half wore on, the Seagulls were lucky not to be further behind.
In the second period City’s control wasn’t as profound, but their opponents did little to trouble Brann, Billy O’Neill’s 68th minute effort the sole outlier.
Maguire and Keating again continued to probe and poke, but City couldn’t find a way through. The former came close in the 52nd minute with a shot Osagie cleared off the line, while the latter hit City’s second offside goal in the 78th minute.
Mpongo threatened in the 67th minute but Jimmy Corcoran kept it out, and Murphy was almost fouled for a penalty for the second successive game, though this one was just outside the box.
He would take the shot from the kick – which came after an elaborate routine – but his 70th minute effort was blocked. Mpongo had a great chance saved in added time but Corcoran did well to deny him.
Ultimately, though, the absence of any real punch up front left Wanderers with nothing to show for their efforts.
Brann; Lyons (Drinan 79), Kelleher, Feely; Mpongo, Bolger, Crowley, Fitzpatrick (Nevin 65); Murphy; Maguire, Keating (Kiernan 87).
Corcoran; Kizenga (Duggan 61), Osagie, Chidi, Kelly (O’Shea 61); Tucker (Ferizaj 61), Doyle; Brennan (McCormack 73); O’Neill, Ring (Nyembo 73), Sammy.
O Moran (Dublin)
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