On what was a glorious evening at St Colman's Park on Friday night, the local derby bragging rights went the way of Cork City following a dominant display and well deserved victory over Cobh Ramblers.
A brace from Barry Coffey and a Sean Murray goal saw City defeat their near neighbours and successfully overcome another hurdle as they seek a return to Irish top flight football for 2025.
Unbeaten after fifteen league games played, barring a major collapse, the Tim Clancy-managed City side look to be on their way back to the Premier Division.
Winning three of their last four league games, Gary Hunt and his Cobh Ramblers side were keen to build on that momentum against their local rivals.
The early exchanges were keenly contested although City were enjoying the majority of possession and generally dictating the proceedings, but the Ramblers defence was holding firm.
City had the first opportunity on target midway through the first half when a Sean Murray strike from the edge of the box was saved well by Cobh goalkeeper Darragh Burke.
That proved to be a warning signal for what was to follow as City went into the lead in the 27th minute.
After being teed up by Cathal O’Sullivan, it was Murray who smashed a low strike into the bottom corner of the net from outside the box for his third goal of the season.
As the opening half edged towards a conclusion, City were showing the class and game management which has seen them concede just four league goals to date this season.
Charlie Lyons was a focal element of the Ramblers defence when the east Cork side made the promotion play-offs last year. Now he moved to pastures new with City and he threatened with a vicious long-range strike moments into the second half.
Ramblers were hoping for a big second-half fightback and they went close when a James O’Leary shot from a decent position was blocked down well by Darragh Crowley.
However, in the 58th minute it was City that extended their advantage and in some style. As the ball fell to him from a header by Cobh defender Dean Larkin, in exquisite fashion Barry Coffey found the net with a beautifully timed lobbed effort over Ramblers shot stopper Burke.
Tim Clancy’s side were looking to turn on the style and goal number three arrived in the 66th minute. From an Evan McLaughlin cross, Coffey was on hand to finish from close range and punish the hesitant Cobh defending.
The game was exactly on Cork City terms heading into the closing stages, as they sent out a reminder to Ramblers and the rest of the First Division they will take some stopping in their pursuit of promotion.
Elsewhere in the division, second placed UCD enjoyed an away win at Kerry, coming from behind to secure the points.
Sean McGrath had opened the scoring for the home side in the seventh minute before Mikey McCullagh bagged a brace to set up the victory. Harry Curtis was sent off in injury time as College ended with ten men.
Third-placed Athlone stayed in touch with a 2-1 win over Bray Wanderers thanks to a Dean Ebbe double for the home side. Paul Murphy hit back for Bray but Athlone held on for the points.
Finn Harps also secured the points as the fourth-placed Donegal outfit came out on the right side of a five-goal thriller with Longford.
Max Johnston and Tony McNamee handed the hosts a two-goal lead before Longford hit back through Jordan Adeyamo's spot-kick. Dean O'Shea then levelled before the break, however Harps won it in the 82nd minute thanks to Success Edogun's winner.
And Wexford grabbed a last-minute point at Treaty United as Kaylem Harnett equalised in the 90th minute.
Thomas Oluwa had given Wexford an early lead before the home side moved ahead through Lee Molloy and Mark Byrne's 86th-minute goal. It looked like Treaty would take the points before Harnett ensured that Wexford did not leave empty handed.
Cobh Ramblers: Darragh Burke; Michael McCarthy (Charlie O’Brien, 76),Brendeán Frahill, Dean Larkin, Cian Browne; James O’Leary (Liam Kervick, 67), Jason Abbott; Nolan Evers, Dale Holland, Jack Larkin (David Bosnjak, 66) ; Matthew McKevitt (David Eguaibor, 76)
Cork City:Bradley Wade; Evan McLaughlin (Conor Drinan, 77), Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Darragh Crowley; Greg Bolger (Arran Healy, 70), Barry Coffey; Cathal O’Sullivan, Jaden Umeh (Cian Bargary, 70) , Sean Murray; Cian Murphy (Harvey Skieters, 77)
Referee: Ray Matthews
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