Derry shock the leaders and close gap

Derry City made it clear that the race for the Premier Division title was far from over following their victory over league leaders Cork City at the Brandywell last night.

In doing so, Stephen Kenny's side ensured Cork experienced their first defeat since April and their first reversal while on the road this season.

Played in front of an estimated attendance of 5,000, Derry's largest of the season so far, the home side stunned Cork with the opening goal after six minutes. And it was a move straight from the training ground which saw the attendance erupt.

Paddy McCourt, operating on the right flank, floated the ball into the back post where Damien Brennan was on hand to head it back across the face of goal and Gary Beckett was perfectly positioned to turn it home from six yards.

The home side continued to press in search of a second with Cork central defender Alan Bennett called upon on two occasions to get his body in the way of shots from both Mark Farren and McCourt.

Cork were always dangerous on the counter-attack, however, and after 30 minutes striker John O'Flynn was denied by Derry goalkeeper David Forde.

Forde pulled off a sensational stop five minutes later when O'Flynn got onto the end of a Joe Gamble pass. In the one-on-one situation the goalkeeper spread himself well to block the shot.

Then five minutes before the half-time break the same Cork striker beat the Derry offside trap but he sent Neil Horgan's cross over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Three minutes after the interval it was Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine's turn to shine when he pulled off a spectacular point-blank save.

Farren floated in a cross from the left and, when Beckett challenged a defender, the ball broke to the unmarked Ciarán Martyn whose first-time shot was blocked by Devine.

There was controversy at the other end in the 58th minute when Derry full back Damien Brennan was adjudged by referee Paul Tuite to have handled a high ball inside the area.

Up stepped Cork substitute George O'Callaghan to drive the ball home from the spot and restore parity.

With play flowing from end to end, Derry moved back into the driving seat in the 74th minute following a mistake by a Cork defender.

A free-kick was lofted forward and Danny Murphy appeared to have misjudged the flight of the ball before Derry substitute Stephen O'Flynn raced in and finished to the net.

The home support went wild three minutes later when Derry increased their lead to 3-1. Having received a defensive clearance outside the area, Barry Molloy let fly with a spectacular dipping shot which found its way over the back-peddling Devine and into the corner of the net.

DERRY CITY: Forde; D Brennan, Delaney, Hutton, Hargan; McCourt, Martyn, Molloy, K Brennan; Beckett, Farren. Subs: O'Flynn for Beckett (61 mins), McGlynn for K Brennan (75 mins), Higgins for McCourt (78 mins),

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, Gamble, O'Halloran, Kearney; Fenn, O'Flynn. Subs: O'Callaghan for O'Halloran (50 mins), O'Brien for O'Donovan (73 mins), Behan for Fenn (86 mins).

Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).