THERE’S A FAMILIAR look to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table after Cork City defeated Bray Wanderers this evening.
Last season’s runners-up have become accustomed to scoring late goals, and it was an 84th-minute strike from Kieran Djilali that secured a 1-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds. The victory moves them into second place, four points behind leaders and reigning champions Dundalk.
Bray — who remain at the foot of the table with no points, having failed to score yet this season — made five changes from their midweek defeat to Longford Town.
The Cork City team, meanwhile, showed two changes in personnel from their win over Galway United, as manager John Caulfield opted to start with six recognised defenders.
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The visitors dominated the first-half but were unable to find a breakthrough. Karl Sheppard had several early chances to give City the lead but the former Shamrock Rovers striker failed to find the net, having opened his account for the club in Tuesday’s defeat of Galway.
John Caulfield’s side continued to pile on the pressure as the opening period progressed, while Bray struggled to trouble the opposing rearguard. Their only effort of note was Graham Kelly’s 25th-minute shot from the edge of the box that was easily saved by Mark McNulty.
Cork City's Alan Bennett tracks Emeka Onwubiko of Bray Wanderers. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Sheppard later headed wide from a Billy Dennehy cross, before having claims for a penalty waved away. However, the main talking point of the first-half came in the 36th minute.
Bray Wanderers midfielder Graham Kelly was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Billy Dennehy. Without the benefit of a replay, the call from referee Jim McKell initially appeared harsh on Alan Mathews’ men, and it left them with a massive challenge to repel the attacks of a City side who were already well in control.
Sheppard missed the target after being played through by Billy Dennehy in the 41st minute, and Darren Dennehy saw his header cleared off the line just before half-time, as Bray made it to the interval on level terms.
Karl Sheppard finally had the ball in the Bray net inside three minutes of the restart but his effort was ruled out for offside. Again, City were in the ascendancy throughout the second-half but they struggled to find the all-important opener.
Sheppard, Billy Dennehy, John Kavanagh and Liam Miller all threatened the Bray goal before John Caulfield sprung close-season signing Kieran Djilali from the bench in the 66th minute.
City continued to press, and with six minutes of normal time remaining, the former Limerick winger poked the ball home following a scramble in the Bray goalmouth to score his first goal for his new club.
Kieran Djilali celebrates his winning goal with Alan Bennett and Ross Gaynor. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
It was a hard-working performance from Bray Wanderers but they left the game empty-handed, while Cork City stay undefeated thanks to Djilali’s goal and a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
BRAY WANDERERS: Stephen McGuinness; Michael Barker, Adam Mitchell, Daniel O’Reilly, Hugh Douglas; Peter McGlynn, Graham Kelly, Ryan McEvoy, Gareth McDonagh (Luke Gallagher, 39), Adam Hanlon (Jack Memery, 68); Emeka Onwubiko (Chris Lyons, 58).
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Alan Bennett, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor; Dan Murray, John Dunleavy (Gavan Holohan, 47); Liam Miller; Billy Dennehy, John O’Flynn (Kieran Djilali, 66), Karl Sheppard (Mark O’Sullivan, 59);
Djilali leaves it late to snatch victory for Cork City against 10-man Bray
Bray Wanderers 0
Cork City 1
THERE’S A FAMILIAR look to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table after Cork City defeated Bray Wanderers this evening.
Last season’s runners-up have become accustomed to scoring late goals, and it was an 84th-minute strike from Kieran Djilali that secured a 1-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds. The victory moves them into second place, four points behind leaders and reigning champions Dundalk.
Bray — who remain at the foot of the table with no points, having failed to score yet this season — made five changes from their midweek defeat to Longford Town.
The Cork City team, meanwhile, showed two changes in personnel from their win over Galway United, as manager John Caulfield opted to start with six recognised defenders.
The visitors dominated the first-half but were unable to find a breakthrough. Karl Sheppard had several early chances to give City the lead but the former Shamrock Rovers striker failed to find the net, having opened his account for the club in Tuesday’s defeat of Galway.
John Caulfield’s side continued to pile on the pressure as the opening period progressed, while Bray struggled to trouble the opposing rearguard. Their only effort of note was Graham Kelly’s 25th-minute shot from the edge of the box that was easily saved by Mark McNulty.
Sheppard later headed wide from a Billy Dennehy cross, before having claims for a penalty waved away. However, the main talking point of the first-half came in the 36th minute.
Bray Wanderers midfielder Graham Kelly was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Billy Dennehy. Without the benefit of a replay, the call from referee Jim McKell initially appeared harsh on Alan Mathews’ men, and it left them with a massive challenge to repel the attacks of a City side who were already well in control.
Sheppard missed the target after being played through by Billy Dennehy in the 41st minute, and Darren Dennehy saw his header cleared off the line just before half-time, as Bray made it to the interval on level terms.
Karl Sheppard finally had the ball in the Bray net inside three minutes of the restart but his effort was ruled out for offside. Again, City were in the ascendancy throughout the second-half but they struggled to find the all-important opener.
Sheppard, Billy Dennehy, John Kavanagh and Liam Miller all threatened the Bray goal before John Caulfield sprung close-season signing Kieran Djilali from the bench in the 66th minute.
City continued to press, and with six minutes of normal time remaining, the former Limerick winger poked the ball home following a scramble in the Bray goalmouth to score his first goal for his new club.
It was a hard-working performance from Bray Wanderers but they left the game empty-handed, while Cork City stay undefeated thanks to Djilali’s goal and a fourth consecutive clean sheet.
BRAY WANDERERS: Stephen McGuinness; Michael Barker, Adam Mitchell, Daniel O’Reilly, Hugh Douglas; Peter McGlynn, Graham Kelly, Ryan McEvoy, Gareth McDonagh (Luke Gallagher, 39), Adam Hanlon (Jack Memery, 68); Emeka Onwubiko (Chris Lyons, 58).
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Alan Bennett, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor; Dan Murray, John Dunleavy (Gavan Holohan, 47); Liam Miller; Billy Dennehy, John O’Flynn (Kieran Djilali, 66), Karl Sheppard (Mark O’Sullivan, 59);
Referee: Jim McKell.
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All-Ireland Senior HC SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Late Show Leesiders League of Ireland LOI Bray Wanderers Cork City