The brilliant Jamie McGonigle headed home Derry’s opener in the Brandywell
Jamie McGonigle’s second goal of the campaign at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium just before the half time break gave them the lead before youngster Tiernan McGinty marked his debut with a late second goal, sealing Ruaidhrí Higgins’ 50th win as manager.
The Brandywell men weren’t at their best but McGonigle’s glancing header just before the break was a big relief for the home supporters, who thankfully saw their team finally score after 231 minutes.
Though the Rebel Army will be bitterly disappointed not to take something from the game, as they missed a host of clear-cut opportunities.
Cork had the first real chance on 18 minutes, Matthew Healy’s right wing centre found an unmarked Ruairí Keating at the back post, but the striker’s poor header was well off target.
The visitors had to make a change on 21 minutes as Tunde Owolabi was replaced by Cian Murphy, the ex-St Patrick’s Athletic man failing to recover from an early knock.
Murphy should have made an instant impact when he latched onto Mark Connolly’s dreadful back header to Brian Maher, but the substitute nicked in ahead of the Derry keeper, but his effort flashed wide.
Murphy went even closer on 25 minutes when his angled strike from the right hand side of the box beat Maher, but came rattling back off the post.
The Candystripes created the first opportunity on 37 minutes as Brandon Kavanagh’s lovely pass found McGonigle, but the striker failed to test Cork keeper Jimmy Corcoran and blasted wide from the right hand side of the six yard box.
Derry took the lead on 46 minutes as good play by Kavanagh saw him win possession from John O’Donovan close to the right hand byline, before his left footed cross found McGonigle, who gleefully headed home from close range.
The sides should have been level on 48 minutes as Aaron Bolger raced clear to a long ball over the top, but with only Maher to beat, the midfielder’s touch let him down and while on the stretch, he could only manage to divert the ball wide.
Derry were denied a second on 55 minutes as Jordan McEneff’s close range strike was straight at Corcoran, who did well to keep the effort out. Just after the hour mark Kavanagh went close to scoring but his curling 20 yard shot was saved at the second attempt by Corcoran.
McGonigle should have grabbed his second on 67 minutes when he controlled Kavanagh’s inch perfect pass before cutting inside past Ally Gilchrist, but the front man blazed over from 12 yards.
Derry bagged the three points on 90 minutes as substitute Ben Doherty burst clear down the left, before his cut-back found fellow sub McGinty and the 17-year-old bundled home his first goal for the club.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Shane McEleney, Mark Connolly (Ciaran Coll 74), Cameron McJannet; Sadou Diallo, Adam O’Reilly, Jordan McEneff (Tiernan McGinty 84); Brandon Kavanagh, Jamie McGonigle, Ryan Graydon (Ben Doherty 64).
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran, Gordon Walker, Cian Coleman, Matthew Healy, Ally Gilchrist, Tunde Owolabi (Cian Murphy 21), Aaron Bolger (Barry Coffey 74), Ruairi Keating (Daniel Krezic 74), Joshuna Honohan, John O’Donovan, Kevin Custovic (Cian Bargary 85).
Referee: David Dunne.
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