Following what was their first home league game in four weeks after the repair work on the pitch at Turner's Cross, Cork City shared the spoils with Wexford following a tight and scrappy May Bank Holiday Monday contest.
Tim Clancy's City side came into this contest as the only remaining unbeaten side across both divisions of men’s League Of Ireland Football.
City went into the lead in the seventh minute. The talented Jaden Umeh did very well in the build-up to fend off a battle with Wexford defender Carl Lennox in the penalty area. Umeh, who is being linked with a move to Portuguese side Benfica this summer, then teed up Barry Coffey and he duly finished neatly to the back of the net.
Wexford made the trip to Leeside with an impressive record on the road this term, including four wins in their last five away games. The visitors looked to find an instant response, with Kian Corbally shooting over from the edge of the box.
Despite flashes of Wexford potential, it was an opening half which saw Cork for large spells in firm control of the contest. However as things would transpire, James Keddy side's threat gradually increased.
With 25 minutes on the clock the hosts almost got a second, when Umeh went close with a headed attempt from a cross by Darragh Crowley. Moments earlier a dangerous Cian Coleman header across the box was somehow knocked home by a City player.
As the opening half edged towards the conclusion, Wexford threatened and the ball broke lively Thomas Oluwa, who misfired from a great position just outside the penalty area.
Wexford momentum was indeed growing and the City fans were stunned into silence when the visitors equalised three minutes before half time.
Some good work down the wing saw Darragh Levingston put a cross into the penalty area. As the home defence failed to clear the danger, on hand was Kaylem Harnett to finish superbly to the top corner inside a crowded penalty area.
It was the first goal the City defence had conceded at Turner's Cross this season, which meant it was all up for grabs going into the second half.
City went close to going back in front when a lovely left footed strike from Cathal O’Sullivan went just over the crossbar on 51 minutes. While Wexford missed a great chance of their own a few minutes later, when Levingston blasted wide from a brilliant position around the edge of the box.
The second half generally was developing into a tight and cagey affair. With the contest heading into the final ten minutes, City’s young attacking stars of O’Sullivan and Umeh nearly found a successful combination, as Umeh fired just over from a few yards out.
Wexford almost got a winner as the contest entered second half stoppage time, but Mark Hanratty blasted well over on the counter.
City will look to get back to winning days on Friday night when they make the short trip to St Colman’s Park to face local rivals Cobh Ramblers.
Wexford will take encouragement from their performance against the league leaders and they go to Treaty United on Friday.
Cork City: Brad Wade; Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Evan McLaughlin, Barry Coffey, Cian Bargary (Josh Fitzpatrick, 59), Nathan Wood (Sean Murray, 59), Darragh Crowley, Niall Brookwell (Harvey Skieters, 86), Cathal O’Sullivan, Jaden Umeh.
Wexford FC: Owen Mason; Darragh Levingston, Ben Lynch, Cian O’Malley (Sean McHale, 73), Ethan Boyle (Brandon McCann, 64), Kian Corbally, Thomas Oluwa (Aaron Dobbs, 63), Mark Hanratty, Carl Lennox, Kaylem Harnett (Mikie Rowe, 61), Reece Webb.
Referee: Marc Lynch.
Elsewhere in the First Division, Cobh Ramblers came away from Belfield with all three points as they came from behind to beat UCD 2-1.
Jake Doyle had put the Students ahead after eight minutes before Jack Larkin equalised on the stroke of half-time with Matthew McKevitt netting the winner just past the hour mark.
In Limerick, there was one goal and two red cards as Athlone Town beat Treaty United 1-0. Dean Ebbe got the only goal of the game before Evan O'Connor was hit with a straight red for the home side while Aaron Connolly received his marching orders after two yelow cards for the visitors.
First-half Goals from Francis Campbell and Luke Wade Slater gave Longford Town a 2-1 win at home to Kerry FC, who could only muster a 72nd-minute Ryan Kelliher strike in reply.
The remaining fixtures saw Bray Wanderers beat Finn Harps 1-0 at the Brandwell, thanks to a Shane Griffin goal just before half-time.
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