Cork watch points slip away

Cork City 1 Derry City 1:DOMINANT CORK City had two points taken from their grasp last night when Derry substitute Thomas Stewart's 87th-minute strike cancelled out Darragh Ryan's 65th-minute header.

The home side were without the suspended Joe Gamble and the injured Pat Sullivan, but there were returns to the fray for Liam Kearney and Neal Horgan.

Derry were forced into two defensive changes, with Mark McChrystal in for injured skipper Peter Hutton while, at left back, veteran Seán Hargan replaced the suspended Stephen Gray.

After an opening period devoid of real chances, Cork started the second half well, with Darren Murphy hitting the side-netting two minutes after the break and substitute Alan O'Connor, on the right of midfield for the injured Cillian Lordan, striking on the half-volley from the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Gerard Doherty was equal to it.

With 65 minutes gone, Cork got the breakthrough they deserved. And ironically they did so despite having only 10 men on the pitch at the time. Denis Behan was forced off with a nasty cut to his right leg after a Mark McChrystal challenge that saw the Derry centre back booked.

While he was away, a fantastic Alan O'Connor cross found Ryan's head and he bravely met the ball despite close attention from goalkeeper Doherty. The ball bounced before crossing the line but it just managed to sneak under the bar.

Derry began to assert their authority a bit and were probably good value for an equaliser. Stewart had already been on target by the time he gathered possession in the 87th minute. He was allowed to get off a left-foot strike that skipped on the greasy surface past Michael Devine.

CORK CITY:M Devine; N Horgan, S Kelly, D Murray (capt), Danny Murphy; C Lordan, Darren Murphy, C Healy, D Ryan; L Kearney; D Behan. Subs: A O'Connor for Lordan (h-t); B Woods for Behan (72). Not used: M McNulty, G Cambridge, T Kiely.

DERRY CITY:G Doherty; G McGlynn (capt), C Delaney, M McChrystal, S Hargan; K McHugh, K Deery, R Higgins, N McGinn; S Morrow, M Farren. Subs: J McLean for McHugh (72); T Stewart for Morrow (80). Not used: E McCallion, D Quigley, A Callaghan.

Referee:Tomás Connolly (Dublin).