League Report: Cork City 2 - 1 Bray Wanderers

Cork City extended their winning run to 11 on Friday with goals from Sean Maguire and John Dunleavy paving the way to a 2-1 victory over Bray Wanderers at Turner's Cross.

Combined with Dundalk’s defeat away to Galway United this means City finish the first round of league games with a 12-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table and have now beaten every other team in the Division without dropping a single point.

City almost scored as early as the third minute when Kevin O’Connor’s inswinging free kick from wide on the right needed a saving touch from Bray ‘keeper Peter Cherrie to keep it out.

Despite some spirited early sparring, Harry Kenny’s side soon found themselves on the back foot and with 11 minutes played the home team showed just why they are the league’s top scorers.

A long punt from keeper Mark McNulty arrowed its way towards the target man, Sean Maguire, and his flick on fell perfectly for Karl Sheppard who allowed the ball to run behind him before latching on to it and cracking a first time shot past Cherrie but off the inside of the post. The rebound cannoned off the Bray custodian and went out for a corner but there was more to come.

When the ball was delivered from the corner flag Derek Foran was penalised for holding and Maguire calmly fired the spot kick into the bottom left corner. From here on City dominated the opening half.

Strong running from Maguire released Dooley down the left on 15 minutes and when the ball came in from O’Connor the City striker was on the end of it, chesting the ball down eight yards from goal, but he was unable to retain his balance and the chance slipped away.

One minute later Maguire tested Cherrie with a low shot at the near post and when Gary McCabe played a loose ball two minutes after that, a short pass from Stephen Dooley again offered Maguire a shot on goal that was again kept out by the reactions of Cherrie.

City were excellent at this point with Sheppard and Maguire posing all sorts of problems for the Bray back four, while Conor McCormack and Greg Bolger dominated the middle of the park.

Bray, meanwhile, had to battle ferociously just to stay in the game without any real opportunity to demonstrate their own attacking capabilities.

Foran was fortunate not to get a second yellow after a check on Maguire while Salmon showed his frustration with a challenge on McCormack that earned him as straightforward a booking as you are likely to see.

For all their possession Cork went in at the break with just a one-goal lead and, having survived some early pressure in the second period, Bray began to play themselves into the game.

John Sullivan’s flick on from McCabe’s corner was headed off the line by O’Connor after 51 minutes and Foran headed tamely at McNulty having risen highest to meet a McCabe free.

McCabe himself sent a 25-yarder whistling narrowly over the Cork bar just after the hour and City boss John Caulfield channeled the feelings of the crowd with loud exhortations for his players to pick up the energy.

Sheppard did his level best to reinvigorate his side when he controlled an arcing ball from substitute Jimmy Keohane on 68 minutes before cutting inside Sean Marks, but his goalbound shot was deflected over the bar by Tim Clancy.

Bray continued to worry the home support with Dylan Connolly looking particularly dangerous on the left flank. A great ball from Ryan Brennan found the Bray midfielder after 73 minutes but, having driven at the City defence, he ballooned his shot high over the target.

With just five minutes left on the clock the home side finally found their second wind and McCormack released Maguire with a beautifully weighted ball over the top. Clancy took one for the team, clipping the striker’s heels just as went to shoot, and the resulting free kick was deflected for a corner.

From O’Connor’s delivery, centre back John Dunleavy saw his flashing header tipped over by Cherrie, but from the next corner Dunleavy made no mistake, planting his header past a static Cherrie and into the visitors’ net. But there was still time for a sting in the tail.

With just three minutes of normal time to play City probably thought they were home and hosed. Not so. Bray went at them with a determination that almost seemed inappropriate given the circumstances and two minutes into added time Foran headed in at the back post from a cross from the left.

Cue two minutes of frantic activity as Bray barrelled forward for an equaliser and Cork suddenly started to panic. But it was a case of too little too late and the league leaders held out for their eleventh straight win of the season and a monumental twelve point lead as they aim for their first title since 2005.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Steven Beattie, John Dunleavy, Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Karl Sheppard, Gearoid Morrissey, Greg Bolger, Conor McCormack, Stephen Dooley (Shane Griffin 82); Sean Maguire (Conor Ellis 89).

Subs Not Used: Alan Smith (gk), Achille Campion, Christian Nanetti, Adam O’Sullivan.

Booked: Conor McCormack (50)

Bray Wanderers: Peter Cherrie; Keith Buckley, Tim Clancy, Derek Foran, Jason Marks; Ryan Brennan (Anthony Flood 77), Mark Salmon (Karl Moore 72), John Sullivan, Dylan Connolly; Gary McCabe (Jamie Aherne 84), Aaron Greene.

Subs Not Used: Lee Steacy (gk), Conor Kenna, Ger Pender, Darragh Noone.

Booked: Derek Foran (11), Mark Salmon (40), John Sullivan (75), Tim Clancy (85)

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 5,361

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Conor McCormack (Cork City)