Cork City extended their unbeaten run under their new management team to five matches with this narrow win over Derry City at Turner's Cross yesterday.
Pat Morley was their match-winner after coming in as substitute in the second half. Good work on the right wing by Colin O'Brien and Alan Carey ended with Carey spinning a good cross to the far post where Morley got in behind the defence to score with a diving header.
"We created enough chances to have deserved our win" said manager Liam Murphy afterwards, "we reduced Derry to half-chances and just about shaded it."
Derry appeared to have grounds for complaint when they were denied a penalty after 73 minutes. Eamonn Doherty fell to the ground when tackled by Cork full back Neil Horgan but referee Dick O'Hanlon waved aside the Derry appeals.
Murphy expressed his delight at Cork's improved form and particularly that of centre-forward James Mulligan. "He is 25 per cent sharper than he was earlier in the season," said Murphy of Mulligan, "he worked very hard on his fitness during the break and it is paying off.
"He is developing a very good partnership with Noel Hartigan up-front for us and it is always good to be able to bring a player like Pat Morley from the bench."
CORK CITY: Devine; Carey, Horgan, Daly, Coughlan, Buckley, Cahill, Flanagan, Mulligan, Hartigan, Caulfield. Subs; O'Brien and Morley for Hartigan and Caulfield 65 mins; Napier for Mulligan 88.
DERRY CITY: Connolly; McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, Kelly; Doherty, Gallagher, Harkin, Coyle, Parkhouse, McLaughlin. Subs; Quigley for Gallagher 54; McCaul for Coyle 69.
Referee; D O'Hanlon (Carrick-on-Suir).
Former French international forward Marc Keller will take over as sports manager at his old club Strasbourg next season. Keller, who has played for Karlsruhe and West Ham and is currently on loan to Blackburn Rovers.
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