AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Cork City 2 Derry City 2CORK CITY staged a remarkable late comeback to salvage a point against 10-man Derry City at Turner's Cross last night.
For long periods, it looked as if two first-half goals from striker Rory Patterson would be enough for the visitors, but Vinny Sullivan in the 82nd minute and Shane Duggan on 85 ensured that Cork earned a draw.
The turning point was the sending-off of Derry defender Stewart Greacen on the hour-mark for a second booking. Cork exerted more of the pressure thereafter with Daryl Horgan twice going close before the late drama.
It was all so different in the first half. Patterson struck first in the 10th minute after Owen Morrison and Patrick McEleney had cut open the Cork defence, and then again after 21 minutes, the striker doubled the visitors’ lead.
Bar the industrious Ian Turner on the right wing, Cork were offering little in the way of attacking initiative. But Greacen’s dismissal offering Cork hope, Tommy Dunne changing to a 3-4-3 formation to chase the game.
They finally pulled a goal back when Sullivan took advantage of a knockdown by sub Tadhg Purcell and then, after Kalen Spillane’s shot was deflected, the ball fell to Duggan, who finished well.
CORK CITY: McNulty; Healy, Kavanagh (Kenny 71), Spillane, D Murphy; Turner, G Morrissey (N Horgan 82), Duggan, O'Neill (Purcell 54); D Horgan; Sullivan.
DERRY CITY:Doherty; Madden, Greacen, McBride, McCaffrey; McDaid, Higgins, McEleney, McLaughlin; Patterson, Morrison (McCallion 62).
Referee: D McKeon(Dublin).
