Karl Sheppard’s goal helps Cork close gap on Dundalk

Limerick 0 Cork City 1

Karl Sheppard’s first-half strike helped Cork City close the gap on league leaders to four points as they handed Limerick their eighth defeat of the season at Jackman Park on Saturday night.

Chances were few and far between in this latest Munster derby but Cork took one of theirs and Limerick wasted a couple on their last match at the venue before the return to Markets Field.

Cork created far more opportunities and a fourth minute mistake by Robbie Williams gave Liam Miller the chance to put his side in front but Conor O'Donnell made a fine save.

The visitors had to wait for 22 minutes for what proved to be the only goal, when a cross from the right was headed to the net by Sheppard.

Limerick were fortunate not to be further behind when O'Donnell came off his line to attempt a clearance but missed his effort to punch clear Colin Healy's cross. The ball broke to Gavan Holohan but Jason Hughes cleared off his own line. That was after 38 minutes and Hughes had to retire injured six minutes later.

Limerick's best chance of a goal came after 62 minutes. A free by Shane Tracy came back off a defender to Shane Duggan whose strong shot brought a fine save from Mark McNulty.

With 19 minutes remaining Cork should have doubled their score. Again O’Donnell was off his line when the ball dropped to Mark O’Sullivan but amazingly he fired wide of the open goal.

LIMERICK FC: O'Donnell, Paudie O'Connor, Williams, Rainsford (Mann 73), Paul O'Conor, Turner, Duggan, Clarke, Faherty (Russell 52), Tracy, Hughes (Whitehead 43).

CORK CITY: McNulty, Kavanagh (McSweeney 65), D Dennehy, Murray, Miller (Buckley 78), Holohan, Healy, B Dennehy, O'Connor, Sheppard (Kearney 89), O'Sullivan.

Referee: N Doyle.

Attendance: 605