Bray Wanderers 1 Cork City 2
Cork City moved up to sixth place in the Premier Division table when a late goal from on-loan striker Ciaran Kilduff gave them a narrow but deserved victory over now bottom of the table Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.
Both sides had early chances when first Cork striker Danny Morrissey shot straight at Bray goalkeeper Darren Quigley while up the other end Marty Waters had an effort for the Seagulls just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
Cork took the lead on seven minutes when Ian Turner picked up a loose ball in midfield and fired home a rocket shot from 25 yards with the outside of his right foot past the diving Quigley.
Bray had a let-off on 10 minutes when Cork striker Kilduff and Danny Morrisey had efforts brilliantly saved one-handed by Quigley with Ian Turner’s shot then on the rebound blocked by skipper Danny O’Connor.
Bray, impressive on breakaway raids, were level on 17 minutes when a precise Waters cross from the left was firmly headed home from six yards at the far post by Nigerian striker Ismahil Akinade.
Early in the second half Gary Dempsey had a chance from a an Akinade cross but it was comfortably gathered by Cork goalkeeper Mark McNulty. Bray twice went close when first Dempsey had a shot deflected for a corner and then Akinade was narrowly wide of the target with a long range effort.
But it was Cork who sealed the points on 80 minutes when Kilduff went past the challenge of Danny O'Connor to fire a low angled shot from the right past the diving Quigley.
BRAY WANDERERS: D Quigley: Webster, D O'Connor (Knight 87), Cooney (Earley 37), S Quigley; Akinade, Dempsey, Zambra, K O'Connor, Waters; Byrne (Mulroy 45).
CORK CITY: McNulty; Horgan, Murray, Buckley, Murphy (Healy 70); Duggan, G Morrissey, Dunleavy; Turner (Kavanagh 74); D Morrissey (Kenny 81), Kilduff.
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).