Cork City - 1 Longford Town - 0: John O'Flynn scored the second-half goal that ensured Cork's unbeaten run in the league was stretched to six and brought to an end Longford's unbeaten record away from home this season.
Cork, neat and constructive in midfield, deserved their win, even if they lived dangerously at times. Longford looked threatening in breakaway attacks in the first half, favouring a more direct style than Cork, but they wasted their scoring chances.
Paul Keegan was surprisingly hesitant in the eighth minute when he found himself free after a long clearance by Alan Murphy, and he delayed long enough to allow goalkeeper Michael Devine smother his shot.
Dessie Baker forced Devine to produce a good save from a 35-yard free after 22 minutes and Darragh Sheridan held his head in disappointment when he turned a corner from Baker against an upright.
Longford spurned yet another chance after 35 minutes when Alan Kirby shot straight at Devine when he looked certain to score.
Cork had missed a glorious chance within 30 seconds of the kick-off. A quick throw from the left by Michael Nwankwo was touched on by George O'Callaghan for Neale Fenn, but from inside the six yard box, he somehow miscued his shot wide.
Longford again went close soon after half-time, when Devine had to produce a fine save to deny substitute Shane Barrett.
Devine looked to have been wrong-footed when Barrett's shot from 15 yards was deflected off Greg O'Halloran but the goalkeeper showed great athleticism as he turned the ball over the crossbar.
Cork were much more effective in the second half, particularly after Brendan Sweeney came into midfield to allow O'Callaghan to take a more forward role alongside O'Flynn, renewing a partnership that had not figured since O'Flynn suffered a serious injury in September of last year.
With O'Flynn growing in strength as the game progressed, Cork had a verve to their play that had earlier been lacking.
They produced a memorable winning goal after O'Callaghan linked with Colin O'Brien on the half-way line. O'Brien, whose recent form has been outstanding, split the Longford defence with a pass that released O'Flynn and in typical fashion he powered a volley from 15 yards across Stephen O'Brien.
CORK CITY: Devine; O'Halloran, Bennett, Murray, Murphy (Byrne 90 mins); Woods, O'Brien, O'Callaghan, Nwankwo (Kearney 79); Fenn (Sweeney 63), O' Callaghan.
LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien; Murphy, Ferguson, Dillon, Prunty; Martin, Kirby, Keogh (Perth 79 mins), Sheridan (Barrett 46); Keegan (Lavine 88), Baker.
Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).
