Cork City ended Derry City’s eight-game winning streak in the Airtricity League Division 1 as Stephen Mulcahy’s equaliser in first-half injury time secured a 1-1 draw at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.
The result, which keeps Derry top of the table, was on balance probably the fairest outcome as Derry dominated the first half but found themselves lucky not concede a winner in the second period as Cork enjoyed far more possession and territory.
The visitors must have considered themselves extremely unlucky to go in level at 1-1 at half-time, having dominated most of the first half with the wind behind them.
They created most of the few chances that existed. Thomas McBride went close as early as the second minute and they took the lead, albeit fortuitously, on 14 when James McLean’s low 20-yard shot took two deflections and went past Mark McNulty in the Cork City goal.
The home side were offering very little in the way of attacking endeavour, the Derry defence repelling the high balls intended for Graham Cummins with ease while in contrast Derry’s wide men Patrick McEleney and McLean always looked dangerous.
Despite all of this, though, Cork still managed to find an equaliser, Stephen Mulcahy heading in a Cathal Lordan free kick in first-half injury time.
Aided by the breeze now, Cork came out in a far more positive mode for the second half, and this approach almost paid dividends for them.
Just before the hour mark, Lordan played a lovely ball for Davin O’Neill on the right and his cross was met by Graham Cummins at the near post but he was just wide, then eight minutes later Cummins again had a great chance, after Shane Duggan played a ball over the defence to put him in, but Gerard Doherty stood up well to his rasping shot.
Duggan himself then volleyed over and Ian Turner was wide with a long-range curler as Cork upped the pressure and the introduction of Paul Deasy seemed to invigorate them even more.
First, his low ball across was just ahead of O’Neill and then he was achingly close with a volley from the corner of the area. Cummins headed over after that and Derry captain Kevin Deery went close with an effort from distance, but there was to be no late drama and 1-1 it finished.
CORK CITY FORAS CO-OP: McNulty; Turner, Mulcahy, O’Halloran, Hojan; O’Neill (Warren 90), Cathal Lordan, Cillian Lordan, Duggan, Forde (Deasy 74); Cummins.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Scoltock. McChrystal, Friars; McEleney (Sweeney 80), Deery, Molloy, McLean; McDaid, McBride (Cassidy 61).
Referee: C Fitzgerald (Galway).
Attendance: 2,031.
Photos: Click Here.
