Derry City 2 Cork City 3: DERRY CITY experienced heartbreak following an amazing turnaround at the Brandywell last night when they lost their unbeaten home record to a never-say-die Cork City outfit.
Coasting 2-0 after 64 minutes, the home side appeared to be well on their way to extended their unbeaten record at home, but the Munster team refused to throw in the towel and fought back to level matters, then scored a sensational winner just four minutes from when the full-time whistle was blown.
After a nervous start, it was the home side who grabbed the initiative in the 33rd minute when Derry deservedly broke the deadlock.
Owen Morrison played Niall McGinn clear on the right flank and his low centre, across the face of the penalty area, was gleefully driven home by the advancing Gareth McGlynn.
The home side maintained the momentum following the change of ends, and Cork goalkeeper Mick Devine pulled off a superb, one-handed save to deny Kevin McHugh before the well-placed McGinn ballooned the rebound over the crossbar.
Stephen Kenny's men doubled their advantage in the 64th minute much to the delight of the big Brandywell crowd when McGlynn robbed Cork defender Danny Murphy before playing the perfect pass into the path of McGinn and he powerfully drove an angled shot to the back of the net from 16 yards.
The visitors refused to give up the ghost and they reduced the deficit in the 69th minute to ensure a nervous finish for the home fans.
Liam Kearney sent Dave Mooney clear on the right side of the pitch and the striker skilfully chipped the ball over the advancing Gerard Doherty in the Derry goal.
And within 60 seconds a long ball from Murphy saw Mooney outwit Derry's Peter Hutton before guiding the ball home from 16 yards to effectively silence the home supporters.
With their tails now up, Cork squandered a glorious chance to take the lead in the 74th minute when another teasing Kearney cross was met by Cillian Lordan but he headed recklessly wide of the target.
In the 76th minute Cork went ever so close again when Mooney chipped the ball from 30 yards, the ball crashing off the upright with the back-peddling Derry goalkeeper Doherty well beaten by the effort.
But Cork substitute Denis Behan was hailed a hero in the 84th minute when he latched onto a long ball from defence to hook it over the Derry's goalkeeper's head from 30 yard to make the long trip back to the southern capital much easier.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Delaney, Hutton, Gray; McGinn, Molloy, McGlynn (Martyn, 83 mins), Morrison (Deery, 83 mins); McHugh, Farren (Sammon, 77 mins)
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Murray, Sullivan, Danny Murphy; Lordan, Gamble, Darren Murphy, Kearney (Ryan, 90 mins); O'Flynn (Behan, 32 mins), Mooney.
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).