Cork City 1 Derry City 0:FINANCIAL TURMOIL was the talk of Turner's Cross last night but Cork City let their football do the talking as Dan Murray's first-half goal saw them move three points clear at the top of the Premier Division.

The Revenue Commissioners issued a petition to wind up the club’s holding company earlier this week, but there were few signs of any off-the-field troubles as Cork avenged their earlier 2-1 defeat at the Brandywell.

It was a third loss of the campaign for the Candystripes, but Paul Doolin’s side are now unbeaten in nine league games.

Derry made a good start and were gifted a glorious opportunity to open the scoring in the second minute. Kevin Deery teed up Sammy Morrow just inside the box but his effort was excellently saved by Dan Connor in the Cork goal.

Mark Farren thought he’d put Derry in front shortly before the half-hour mark, but he was denied by a remarkable Connor save.

The breakthrough came in the 39th minute. Colin Healy’s free-kick from the right was headed back across the goal by Greg O’Halloran, allowing Murray to finish to an empty net.

Derry’s task was made even more difficult seven minutes into the second half when Mark McChrystal was given his marching orders for a second yellow card for a late challenge on Colin Healy.

Derry battled valiantly for an equaliser but they were unable to penetrate the home defence, with Cork’s Stephen O’Donnell being shown a red card for dissent in injury-time.

CORK CITY: Connor; Sullivan, Mezeckis (Kiely, 52), Murray, O’Halloran; Lordan, Healy, Gamble; Silagailis (O’Donnell, 75), Behan, Kuduzovic.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Hutton, McChrystal, Gray; Deery, Molloy (Higgins, 75), Martyn, Stewart; Morrow (McManus, HT), Farren (McLean, 75).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).