Cork City's promotion party delayed following late UCD intervention
Cillian Murphy of Cork City celebrates with teammate Seáni Maguire. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Two players at contrasting stages of their careers - Cillian Murphy and Seáni Maguire – supplied the second-half goals to steer Cork City to within a point of promotion at the first attempt.
A third First Division title in five years seemed to be crowned as the night’s series drifted towards stoppage time but UCD’s last-gasp 5-4 victory over Finn Harps stalled proceedings.
New manager Patrick McEleney looked poised to end a wretched run of seven defeats for Harps until Hugh Smith’s late winner, meaning City’s job can be completed with only six games to spare next Friday.
That match is against Bray Wanderers, who were technically in the mix to catch the Rebels on the run-in until they lost 2-1 at Athlone Town.
Wexford were frustrating the table-toppers until three minutes into the second half when Maguire, on his first start since May, squared for Murphy to bundle the ball home from close range for the 17-year-old’s sixth goal of his first season.
Maguire’s poacher’s instinct was evident with 16 minutes remaining as he mirrored Murphy’s sharpness to nod a corner over the line from close range.
That brought his haul for an injury-interrupted season to 11, sharing double figures with his fellow sharpshooters Hans Mpongo and Ruairi Keating.
City have endured some hiccups along their golden path but Wexford haven’t provided any as this victory completed a clean sweep in their four meetings this term.
There was a boost before kick-off with the news of Maguire’s return to the starting line-up.
Barry Robson has been careful in reintegrating the veteran striker back into the fold, for fear of aggravating a hamstring injury with next season in mind, but his partnership with Keating that City fans crave was finally restored after a sequence of substitute appearances.
Maguire was one of two changes made by Robson, with left-back Conor Drinan forced out of the starting 11 with an injury.
His absence might have contributed towards Maguire and Keating being overshadowed as an attacking force in the first half.
On several occasions, the hosts’ backline were exposed by simple Wexford passing. Their inability to maintain an offside trap also contributed to the couple of scares they were made to endure.
Firstly, one of Wexford’s few experienced campaigners, Mikie Rowe, was left unmarked at the back post as City were caught ball-watching, only to fluff his finish.
After City mustered their first sight of goal through Keating’s snapshot that stung the palms of Paul Martin, the Rebels were twice again penetrated with ease.
Gavin Hodgins was also profligate at the back post, yet not to the extent Jack Doyle was on the half hour. He was given the freedom to race clear unattended but City were thankful to their Ireland call-up Conor Brann in goal to stoop low with a save.
Jolted by their concessions, the home side recovered approaching half-time to fashion a few openings, aided by referee Daryl Carolan applying the new rule of awarding a corner for the Wexford goalkeeper delaying his kick-off. Neither Maguire nor Keating could get their feet in sync to convert, while Charlie Lyons was equally culpable by veering his free header beyond the far post.
That patchy first half was forgotten once the nous of City sunk the side led by former Ireland striker Stephen Elliott.
One of his loanees, Ryan Ritchie from Bohemians, will remember his trip to Leeside for being fortunate to escape a red card following a lunge on Maguire. That couldn’t prevent the former Preston striker from stencilling his imprint on his proper comeback.
Events elsewhere ensured City must clip the wings of the Seagulls at the Carlisle Grounds to keep their flight at altitude.
C Brann; K Feely, F Kelleher, C Lyons; J Fitzpatrick (H Nevin 53), D Crowley, N O’Keeffe (J Aidoo 58); C Murphy, H Mpongo; R Keating, S Maguire.
P Martin; L Doyle, R Bartley, R Butler, J Wynne; K Hartnett, R Ritchie, M Rowe, G Hodgins (Z Abada 72), K Dignam; J Doyle.
Daryl Carolan (Louth).
2556.
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