Cork City moved to within a point of Premier Division leaders St Patrick's Athletic thanks to two goals from Pat Morley at the Carlisle Grounds last night. The scores helped wear down the challenge of the relegation-threatened home team.
Cork had not won in five games, and manager Dave Barry made four changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Finn Harps in the FAI Cup game last Sunday. In came Greg O'Halloran, Brian Barry-Murphy, Mark Herrick and Noel Hartigan. Bray started brightly enough and were unlucky not to have a penalty after just four minutes when Barry O'Connor appeared to be taken down by O'Halloran in the penalty box. But referee John Stacey allowed play to continue.
Cork went straight to the other end of the field, with Morley's effort deflected wide. From Kelvin Flanagan's resulting corner, Hartigan's header was just wide. Cork won another corner after 15 minutes, and from it scored their first goal. O'Halloran and Hartigan played head tennis after Flanagan had delivered the ball, before Morley squeezed it home from close range.
The goal ended a remarkable run of 604 minutes of competitive football in which Bray goalkeeper John Walsh had not conceded a goal. Steve Jones, a lively customer on the Bray right wing, twice set up chances for striker Stephen Fox; but he was off target with a header and then shot wide from 12 yards.
Cork might have increased their lead on 37 minutes after clever midfield work by Patsy Freyne and Hartigan allowed Ollie Cahill to burst through the home defence. But his shot was blocked by Walsh, with Herrick shooting the rebound wildly over the bar.
A disastrous back header by Derek Coughlan led to Bray's equaliser on 69 minutes. Goalkeeper Noel Mooney was stranded off his line and although he did manage to get a touch, Barry O'Connor was there to shoot home from three yards.
A total lack of concentration by the Bray side allowed Cork to snatch the lead back just 40 seconds later when O'Halloran shot home from a difficult angle after Hartigan had carved open the home defence.
Cork did have a let-off on 79 minutes when a free kick by Philip Keogh enabled O'Connor to get in a looping header, which was fumbled by Mooney, although the goalkeeper was able to grab the ball at the second attempt.
Substitute John Glynn sealed the three points for Cork just four minutes from the end when he played Cahill through on the left. An inch-perfect low cross then allowed Morley to shoot home. This victory puts the pressure on St Patrick's, who play Derry City at the Brandywell tomorrow. But Cork will be in the right mood for Tuesday night's FAI Cup replay against Finn Harps in Ballybofey.
Bray Wanderers: Walsh; Tresson, Doohan, Lynch, Keogh; Jones, Smith, Tierney, Farrell; Fox, O'Connor. Subs: Brien for Farrell (60 mins); K O'Brien for Tierney (63 mins); Parsons for Fox (75 mins).
Cork City: Mooney; O'Halloran, Daly, Coughlan, Barry-Murphy, Flanagan, Freyne, Herrick, Cahill; Hartigan, Morley. Subs: C O'Brien for Flanagan (58 mins); Glynn for Hartigan (82 mins); Cotter for Herrick (89 mins).
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
