Cork City 1 Galway United 0

Billy Dennehy’s second goal in as many games gave Cork City a first league win in three games at Turner’s Cross.

Having been introduced as a 54th-minute sub, Dennehy – who made been out of favour since early before coming back and scoring against St Patrick’s Athletic last week – half-volleyed home three minutes later after Steven Beattie had flicked on Mark McNulty’s clearance.

It wasn’t a sparkling display from John Caulfield’s side but they did enough to close the gap on Dundalk to eight points. Threatening going forward, by and large the home defence never really looked troubled despite Galway having a go. While the visitors did have the first chance as Jake Keegan curled a shot wide, most of the first half was City’s. Sam Oji had to get a good block on a Garry Buckley shot, Karl Sheppard had a couple of efforts and Liam Miller tested Conor Winn, though clear-cut opportunities were hard to come by, with Ross Gaynor going closest after he cut in from the right.

The same pattern of play pertained after the break, with Beattie always looking lively for the hosts while Oji almost headed a Gaynor cross past Winn. Dennehy’s impact after his introduction was instant as he met the ball perfectly from Beattie’s touch, giving Winn no chance. While a second goal never materialised, an equaliser never looked likely either.

CORK CITY: McNulty; McSweeney, Bennett, Murray, Gaynor; Healy, Miller (B Dennehy 54); Beattie, Buckley, Sheppard (Kearney 89); O'Sullivan.

GALWAY UNITED: Winn; Rafferty, Oji, Cantwell, Horgan; Sinnott, Byrne, O'Leary (O'Connell 85); Shanahan, Keegan, Molloy (Melody 61). Referee: S Grant (Wexford). Attendance: 2,518