Cork City edge past Wexford to make it six wins in a row

But City were so, incredibly fortunate to come away with this victory.

Cork City's Ruairi Keating celebrates scoring a goal. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Wexford 0 Cork City 2

Back from the break and back with a win, Cork City made it six-straight victories with a 2-0 win over Wexford as Ruairí Keating and Hans Mpongo hit the next within two minutes of one another.

But they were so, incredibly fortunate to come away with this victory.

After over an hour of Wexford control and hardly a poke from the visitors, City manager Barry Robson deemed a change of shape necessary, bringing on debutant Denzell Obenge and switching to four attackers.

Even then proceedings were still largely controlled by the hosts – Conor Brann had to come off his line and dispossess Mikie Rowe to deny a goal chance – and both Ryan Ritchie and Max Murphy forced saves from Brann in the 76th minute.

Hans Mpongo then managed City’s first decent chance up to that point, snapping up a loose ball in the Wexford box and firing at goal, but Dylan Hand reacted fast to get the block in and turn it around for a corner in the 79th minute.

Ryan Butler would see a chance cleared off the line by Greg Bolger in the 82nd minute as the hosts continued to fight for the winner to bolster their playoff ambitions, and then City finally struck.

Niall O’Keeffe crossed from deep, substitute Ruairí Keating rose highest, and Paul Martin couldn’t keep it out in the 85 minute.

Then two minutes later, Mpongo tried to dink a cross in which came off the crossbar, and then off Max Murphy, before going in, with the Dutchman awarded the goal, sealing the victory.

On many occasions in this First Division slog that Cork City condemned themselves to for 2026, they’ve gone it at the interval left wondering how they weren’t a goal, if not two, ahead.

But on this sunny June outing in the south-east, they were left stunned as to how they weren’t trailing at the break.

Their contest at this very venue back in February saw the Leesiders turn up and dominate from the start, but the opposite unfolded here. Wexford were immense from the first whistle, and showed no signs of losing their grip.

Kaylem Hartnett was everywhere in the first half, Max Murphy worked tirelessly down the flank, and Jake Doyle caused Charlie Lyons ample problems in the opening period. City couldn’t manage a mere sniff for the entire first half.

But while it was a complete reversal of the previous clash at Ferrycarrig – where City led 2-0 at the break on that occasion – Wexford had nothing to show for their efforts here.

Harnett set up former Cobh Ramblers forward Mikie Rowe for a chance inside four minutes that he snapped wide, and while it set the tone for the entire half, they couldn’t break the deadlock.

The hosts were aggressive and pressed hard, constantly forcing turnovers and preventing their opponents from finding any rhythm. City were still without a shot after 30 minutes, though Wexford struggled for clear-cut openings.

Jamie Wynne fizzed a good low cross in that Lyons dealt with, Max Murphy skied a chance from outside the box. When the break arrived, parity remained.

Early after the restart, City finally managed an opportunity. O’Keeffe moving it to Mpongo and he set up Bolger for a chance, but it was way off target.

In the 53rd minute, Wexford were back on the attack again with Ryan Butler conjuring up an opportunity. They should have hit the net seven minutes later when Doyle set up Rowe, but his effort was straight at Brann.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, Cork City found life and broke Wexford hearts.

WEXFORD (3-5-2): Martin; Hand, Butler, McCourt; Murphy, Harnett, Doyle, Verdon (Shuntaro Doyle 87), Wynne; Ritchie (Hodgins 87), Rowe.

CORK CITY (3-5-2): Brann; Lyons, Kelleher, O’Connor; Drinan, O’Keeffe, Bolger, Bridge (Obenge 63), Murphy; Murray (Keating 77), Mpongo.

Referee: P Norton (Dublin).