Derry City 2 Cork City 0:MARK FARREN was hailed a hero at the Brandywell last night, the Derry City striker moving to within three goals of Liam Coyle's all-time scoring record.
Now on 109 competitive goals, the 29-year-old sent his side on their way with a neat finish in the 48th minute.
The home side doubled their lead in the 52nd minute in fortuitous fashion when Cork goalkeeper Mark McNulty misjudged a high ball and Stephen McLaughlin ended the game as a contest.
McLaughlin headed home in the 17th minute, but that effort was ruled out for a push and eight minutes later Farren raced through but he was denied by Gavin Kavanagh’s last-ditch tackle. Farren beat McNulty in a race for possession, but his goalbound shot was blocked by Kavanagh.
Three minutes after the break Derry were rewarded for their persistence. And when Farren raced on to an incisive Barry Molloy pass, the Brandywell faithful acknowledged his accurate strike from 16 yards.
McNulty’s error then left McLaughlin with time and space to volley home into the empty net.
DERRY CITY:Doherty; Madden; Greacen; McBride; McCaffrey; McEleney (Crossan, 76); Higgins; Molloy; McLaughlin (McGroary, 88); Morrison (McDaid, 56); Farren.
CORK CITY:McNulty; Turner; Kavanagh; Murray; Murphy; Horgan; Morrissey; Dunleavy; O'Connor (Healy, 61); O'Neill (Purcell, 61); Sullivan (Morrissey, 61).
Referee:R Rogers (Dublin).
