The last remaining unbeaten record in the Eircom League was shattered at Turner's Cross yesterday by Derry City's competent performance and Cork City's own serious shortcomings.

Cork manager Derek Mountfield kept his players behind locked doors for 30 minutes after the final whistle and later said: "We have had a serious heart-to-heart talk and hopefully a constructive one.

"There is not too much wrong, we played far better in the second half than we have done for sometime and hopefully before too long things are going to click." Cork enjoyed a lot of the ball, particularly in the second half, but Derry goalkeeper John Connolly was not asked to make one noteworthy save. Derry's stern defence, in which Peter Hutton played solidly at sweeper behind Joe Harkin and Darren Kelly, saw to that.

Derry's first goal after just 11 minutes dictated the trend. From the moment an unmarked Paddy McLaughlin headed home Eddie McCallion's corner, Derry put the emphasis on slowing the game and maintaining their balance in defence.

The tactics paid off as Cork showed few ideas in attack. It was their third consecutive match at home without scoring and their supporters have now been waiting 295 minutes for a goal since they scored in the opening match of the season against St Patrick's Athletic.

Derry stole away two minutes into injury time to score their second. Eamonn Doherty broke from halfway and his cross was turned in at the near post by substitute Darren McCaul.

CORK CITY: Mooney; Horgan, Daly, Napier, Delaney, O'Brien, O'Halloran, Herrick, Freyne (Moore 61), Morley, Mulligan (Caulfield 61).

DERRY CITY: Connolly; Harkin, Hutton, Kelly, McCallion, Hegarty, McLaughlin, Hargan, Doherty, Coyle (Devlin 90), Beckett (McCaul 73).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).