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Classy Cork batter Bray

Friday 9th September 2005, 10:52 pm

John O'Flynn, Cork City.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Cork City, without manager Damien Richardson, eased past the challenge of Bray Wanderers at Turner's Cross tonight. A 3-0 win maintains their two point lead at the top of the eircom League.
The league leaders started much the brighter and John O'Flynn could have helped himself to a hat-trick before he eventually broke the deadlock on 20 minutes. The Cork striker was twice denied by Bray keeper Chris O'Connor. The Australian keeper saved brilliantly to turn O'Flynn's snap-shot around the post after eight minutes and again saved a couple of minutes later when O'Flynn almost scuffed his shot from close range.

The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes and O'Flynn finally outwitted the keeper. An ambitious through ball from Danny Murphy left O'Connor in two minds. As he waited at the edge of the box, O'Flynn controlled, rounded him and slotted home to make it 1-0.

Liam Kearney volleyed over from the edge of the box and O'Flynn had a low curling shot just curl back too late to find the target as City looked set to romp home before the break. Derek Coughlan netted his first for Cork since rejoining to make it 2-0 on 33 minutes. The centre-half showed a striker's finish as he pounced after Joe Gamble's initial shot had been blocked by Stephen Gifford. Coughlan turned the ball past the stranded O'Connor and already Bray were out of it.

Cork City had won 2-1 at the Carlisle Grounds in June and the nervy finish to that game meant City couldn't take anything for granted going into the second half. David Tyrell came close but a super block by Murphy in front of goal turned the Bray winger's shot wide.

The home side were still threatening though and Denis Behan wasn't far over with his angled shot when racing in on O'Connor's goal. Andrei Georgescu was another Bray attacker denied by Murphy. The Romanian striker couldn't turn the ball home at the back post as Murphy blocked him out.

Kearney was in on goal with 15 minutes remaining but again O'Connor did well to save down low in a one-on-one. The third goal arrived on 78 minutes. It seemed inevitable that City would take advantage of the gaps as Bray pushed forward. Roy O'Donovan raced through the defence and fired home low from an angle to put the game beyond Bray at last.

They could have had a fourth in the final minute. George O'Callaghan seemed to try and gift Willie Bruton his first Cork goal as he squared unselfishly. Bruton's shot was blocked and O'Callaghan fired over from the loose ball.

City will now turn their attentions to the UEFA Cup and will be hoping that John O'Flynn didn't pick up more than a knock in the closing moments.

Cork City : Devine, Horgan, Murphy, Coughlan, D Murray, Gamble, Kearney, O'Callaghan, O'Donovan, O'Flynn (Bruton 82), Behan (Fenn 70).
Bray Wanderers : O'Connor, O'Reilly, Gifford, Roche, McGovern (Ryan 65), James, Kevin O'Brien, Tyrell (Murphy 75), Fox, Georgescu, Kieran O'Brien (Long 81).