Cork are back on top of the pile

National League Premier Division/ Longford Town 0 Cork City 2: Cork City jumped back to a familiar position at the top of the Eircom League Premier Division table with a comprehensive win away to Longford Town in Flancare Park on Saturday night.

Longford were never at the races in this tussle and they struggled with a lone-striker system that was always going to make life difficult against the league champions.

Cork's victory was achieved without midfielder George O'Callaghan, who had been given time off by manager Damien Richardson earlier in the week. The 26-year-old is expected to be back in the side for the Champions League tie with Apollon Limassol on Wednesday.

Cork struck twice inside the opening 15 minutes to virtually end the contest, and both strikes were finished to the net by the in-form Denis Behan.

His first goal, after 10 minutes, came about after Neale Fenn's strike was well saved by goalkeeper Mick Dempsey. The ball broke and Behan stroked it home.

Five minutes later Behan grabbed his second goal. This time the striker cut in from the right to unleash an unstoppable shot that flew past Dempsey.

Longford were forced to push central defender Kevin Doherty forward to partner Dessie Baker in an attempt to create some trouble for the visiting defence. And the switch certainly improved things for the home side.

Stephen Gough saw his 39th-minute free-kick well saved by City custodian Mick Devine, while six minutes later Danny O'Connor's drive was well over the crossbar.

The second half provided very little goalmouth action, though Behan did have a free-kick well saved by Dempsey in the 58th minute while Fenn saw his 85th-minute strike scrape the paint off Mick Dempsey's right-hand post.

LONGFORD TOWN: Dempsey; Murphy, Doherty, Paisley, Prunty; J Martin, Gough (Kirby 64), O'Connor, Fitzgerald, Cronin (Reilly 54); Baker (R Martin 64).

CORK CITY: Devine; Murphy, Murray, Bennett, Horgan; O'Donovan, Gamble, O'Brien, Woods; Behan, Fenn.

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)