AIRTRICITY LEAGUE CORK WIN BUN FIGHT

Leaders pick up all three points

RUTHLESS Cork City turned this League of Ireland game in Buncrana on its head in six first half minutes but were hanging on for dear life thereafter.

But it’s precisely these precious results that are the making of champions, not least after going down to 10 men for the last 23 minutes.

Barry Mcnamee had a gallant Derry ahead before Karl Sheppard and a Gearoid Morrissey stunner put the Rebels in the driving seat.

John Caulfield’s league leaders were pinned deep throughout the second half and had to survive a flurry of shots on goal in the dying stages.

But while Rory Patterson made a timely return from injury after almost three months out, Derry’s attack lacked the guile to capitalise on their dominance.

Derry set the tone for an entertaining game when Ronan Curtis smashed a 12th minute shot off the post and then looked on in disbelief as it raced across the face of goal.

But five minutes later Patterson, fit again after almost three months out, cushioned a header into Mcnamee’s path who finished well.

On the half hour, though, Mcnamee coughed up possession and it allowed Seanie Maguire to play Sheppard into space and he slotted home his ninth in the league.

Morrissey then drilled an unstoppable rising shot to Ger Doherty’s net from 25 yards to make it 1-2.

Cork’s task of trying to hold the marauding Candystripes at bay became even more difficult with 23 minutes left when right-back Jimmy Keohane was sent off for two yellows.

In the dying minutes Mark Timlin and Patterson both drew saves from Mcnulty as Cork hung on.

SHEPP SHAPE Sheppard celebrates his goal with Sean Maguire in Buncrana last night. Below, Derry score