Cork City 2Â
Waterford FC 0
Neither boom, nor bust for Cork City. Bust evaded for now, at least. An impressive performance and a crucial three points as Cork City took down Waterford FC in the League of Ireland Premier Division at Turner’s Cross on Friday evening.
Evan McLaughlin of Cork City, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Cork City and Waterford at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Goals from Evan McLaughlin and Matthew Murray in either half powered Ger Nash’s side to victory, though as always, not without a cost.
The first half had been evenly matched. The second belonged to City. A second goal looming from the restart, a second goal found in the 54th minute.
A gift from their opponents, maybe, but it needed an instinctive interception from starlet Matthew Murray, who collected Sam Glenfield’s horrendous back pass, before firing into the bottom corner to liven up the Shed End party.
But he went to ground, and stayed down. He limped off, joining Josh Fitzpatrick as the second player to depart early for the Leesiders.
Even with the loss of Murray, City’s pressure never wavered. Rory Feely came close with a volleyed effort, Sean Murray slipped Maguire through with a stunning long-pass, but the striker snatched at his 67th minute effort.
McLaughlin tested Stephen McMullan two minutes later in search of a third. In the 72 minute, Freddie Anderson looked to have found it.
Kitt Nelson’s delivery, Anderson’s shot – or rather – bullet. He unleashed a strike with such power that Stephen McMullan stopped it with his body before he could react.
Waterford’s best chance of the half arrived two minutes later. Trae Coyle, who was lively from the bench, with a brilliant cross that found Amond. Brann saved the close range shot and it fell to Faal, but he failed to hit the target.
Still City kept prodding. Twice Alex Nolan curled a left footed shot inside the box, twice McMullan stretched to save. They coughed up control and their opponents enjoyed plenty of possession in the last 10 minutes, though never looked like finding a way back.
City began well. Not quite as explosive as the first 90-seconds from the previous week against Bohs, but this time the pressure was prolonged, the intent clear.
Darragh Crowley of Cork City in action against Jesse Dempsey of Waterford during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Cork City and Waterford at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Inside the first eight minutes Josh Fitzpatrick burst free three times on the counter, each run teasing at the prospect of a breakthrough. He even slipped Murray through after two minutes, though the linesman’s flag spared Waterford after he scored.
At the other end, Muhammadu Faal was first to ask a real question, stepping past two City defenders, only denied when Conor Brann tipped his drive aside on six minutes. Faal then turned provider, cutting the ball across for Joshua Miles, only for Brann to save again.
The City goalkeeper would be called upon three more times before the interval, getting behind efforts from Conon Noonan, Padraig Amond on the volley, and Kacper Radkowski in the final 11 minutes.
But the game had a pulse now. Evan McLaughlin curled a free on 24 minutes that drew gasps from the crowd after Ryan Burke climbed highest to head just over. Burke had already saved Waterford earlier, cutting out Murray’s low cross in the 17th minute.
Josh Miles of Waterford in action against Evan McLaughlin of Cork City during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Cork City and Waterford at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Seani Maguire battled hard as always, three times fouled inside the opening 22 minutes. For once he was being supplied, and when he stole half a yard to head home on 43 minutes Turner’s Cross erupted, only for the offside flag to deny the Leesiders a second time.
But City would not be denied. Two minutes into added time, Murray muscled his way down the flank, his cross coming off Radkowski and falling kindly for McLaughlin. The finish was emphatic, a rasping volley from close range that gave City a lead to carry inside.
The second half was better again. Murray doubled the lead, and City clung on to keep the candle flickering.
CORK CITY: Brann; Kiernan, Anderson, Feely, Crowley; McLoughlin (Lyons 77), Kamara; Fitzpatrick (Nolan 25 inj), Nelson, M Murray (S Murray 56 inj); Maguire.
WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Miles (Coyle 63), Radkowski, McDonald, Burke, Dempsey (Horton 84); Glenfield (Rossiter 63), Noonan, Olayinka, Noonan; Amond (c), Faal.
Referee: P McLoughlin (Monaghan)