Cork City's cushion atop the First Division table was padded out to 13 points thanks to an edgy 1-0 victory over Bray Wanderers in front of 2,026 fans at Turner’s Cross.
Having signed off for the mid-season break with their best performance of the year, City produced a sloppy display on their return. Evan McLaughlin’s winner arrived against the run of play and they had to rely on some magnificent Brad Wade saves to bank the three points.
His 14th clean sheet combined with UCD’s 2-2 draw down the road in Cobh ensured City’s route back to the top tier continues without any major resistance.
Exciting winger Malik Dijksteel earned his first start of the season as Tim Clancy made three changes following their summer holiday. Barry Coffey and Josh Fitzpatrick were also introduced, while teenage talent Cathal O’Sullivan appeared off the bench after a month out injured.
City had buried Bray in their previous two encounters with a pair of goals inside 15 minutes. The last meeting preceded Ian Ryan’s surprise resignation and the visitors arrived under the interim management of Lorcan Fitzgerald and Paul Heffernan. The Seagulls’ task was clear: start fast.
They almost achieved that objective in spectacular style. From a Kieran Cruise cross, Cristian Magerusan’s spinning flick looked destined to dip under the crossbar but Wade stretched back a big hand to tip over.
Then Darren Craven beat Charlie Lyons to a dropping ball to race in on goal. His ricocheted shot bounced over Wade but Cian Coleman got back to clear off the line.
Magerusan came close again in the 20th minute. He outjumped Lyons to Callum Thompson’s deflected cross and his header drew gasps from the crowd as it landed just wide.
It was a bolt from the blue, then, when City broke the deadlock shortly before half-time. Greg Bolger’s lofted pass found McLaughlin inside the Bray box. He took a moment to assess his options before coolly picking his spot low to the keeper’s left. A fifth goal of the season for the left-back.
It was a sickening concession for Bray to take into the dressing room. Down the corridor, Clancy was far from content. He went to his bench for a double-switch which saw Jack Doherty and Conor Drinan called on and Fitzpatrick and Seán Murray removed.
As the rain fell, City’s subs provided some impetus. Doherty shot straight at Stephen McGuinness and Drinan teed up Darragh Crowley to give the keeper a sterner test before the winger skidded a low strike narrowly wide.
A better chance followed when Cian Murphy shook off Zach Nolan to sprint through. He chipped the advancing goalie but misdirected it across the target.
With a dozen minutes remaining, Wade came to their rescue. Freddie Turley’s cross was perfectly placed onto Magerusan’s head and his firm contact looked sure to billow the net only for the keeper’s quick reactions.
He brilliantly clawed away another Harry Groome effort to begin the four added minutes, although referee Marc Lynch called play back for a foul on the stopper.
Wade then kept his eye on a swerving Turley shot to bat over the bar as City clung on.
As mentioned, second-placed UCD dropped points in Cobh as they twice came from behind to take a point home from their trip south.
Liam Kervick handed the home side the lead in the 31st minute, before Niall Holohan hit back for the Students two minutes later.
Kervick bagged his brace in the 58th minute but Cobh were again unable to hold onto their lead as Ciaran Behan levelled maters in the 66th minute to share the spoils.
Athlone Town sit third following their victory over Treaty United as Dean Ebbe grabbed the only goal of the game for the home side.
Fifth-placed Finn Harps could only pick up one point on the road at bottom-placed Longford, taking the lead through Patrick Ferry's sixth-minute goal.
But the home side fought back in the second half as Jordan Tallon equalised in the 58th minute.
Kerry maintained the five-point gap between themselves and lowly Longford as the ten men grabbed an injury-time equaliser through Ryan Kelliher, battling back to draw 1-1 with Wexford, who had gone ahead through Thomas Oluwa's 47th-minute opener.
Kevin Williams had been sent off for the home side in the 71st minute for a second bookable offence.
Cork City: Brad Wade; Darragh Crowley, Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Evan McLaughlin; Seán Murray (Conor Drinan HT), Greg Bolger; Josh Fitzpatrick (Jack Doherty HT), Barry Coffey, Malik Dijksteel (Cathal O’Sullivan 68); Cian Murphy
Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Max Murphy, Killian Cantwell, Zach Nolan, Kieran Cruise; Freddie Turley, Harry Groome; Callum Thompson, Darren Craven, Guillermo Almirall (Peter Grogan 82); Cristian Magerusan
Referee: Marc Lynch
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