Cork City 2 Derry City 0

Cork City returned to winning ways in the Premier Division as early goals paved the way for victory over Derry City at Turner's Cross.

Though the hosts had begun slowly after defeats to Dundalk and St Patrick's Athletic in their previous two league outings, they settled through the awarding of a penalty when Billy Dennehy was fouled by Shane McEleney in the 14th minute, with Dennehy converting for his eighth goal of the season and fourth from the penalty spot.

Lead doubled
Less than three minutes later, the lead was doubled as Colin Healy's free-kick was only headed out by the Derry defence as far as Gearóid Morrissey, who steered a low shot in off the post from 25 yards.

Even at that early stage, a home win looked inevitable as Derry offered little in the attacking department, with an Aaron Barry header from Patrick McEleney’s free-kick their only real chance of the first half.

Though Cork were denied a third goal just before the half-time break as Dan Murray’s effort was ruled out for offside after Derry goalkeeper Ger Doherty had tipped Mark O’Sullivan’s header onto the crossbar, the home side were good value for their half-time lead.

Early in the second half, O'Sullivan again found Doherty's crossbar while Ryan Curran did likewise at the other end, but Cork had done enough in the first half of the game to take all three league points available on the night.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Dunleavy, Murray, D Dennehy, Davoren; Lenihan, Healy, Kearney (Buckley 80), G Morrissey, B Dennehy; O'Sullivan.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; S McEleney (McNamee 80), Byrne, McBride, Barry; R Curran (Boyle 74), Molloy, McNamee, Ventre, Duffy; P McEleney.

Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).