Michael Duffy scores again as Derry City come from behind to beat Cork

Derry City 2

Cork City 1

Michael Duffy was the hero again as Derry City came from behind to beat Cork City at the Brandywell.

It was a memorable second half in front of the new North Stand as City scored two goals in nine minutes to complete a brilliant second half fightback. 

Trailing through Kitt Nelson’s first-half opener, the home side endured a frustrating hour before they finally clicked into gear, with Ronan Boyce’s spectacular equaliser quickly followed by another goal from Duffy to make it four unbeaten for the Candystripes.

The Brandywell was silenced just 14 minutes into the game when Cork City took the lead with their first effort on target. Full-back Bernardo Couto’s cross from the left tempted Brian Maher from his goal, but the goalkeeper got nowhere near it, allowing Kit Nelson to head into an empty net, becoming the first player to score in front of the new North Stand in the process.

It was the fifth time in eight games this season that City had conceded the first goal, but they almost responded immediately from their first corner, Ben Doherty’s cross met with a powerful header from Kevin Holt, but Tien Troost somehow kept it out from close-range.

The Cork City goalkeeper was the hero again midway through the first half when he denied Sean Patton a first senior goal. Paul McMullan’s low cross into the area found the young striker, who turned well to create space for a shot, but Troost denied him.

It was an entirely frustrating first half for the home side, but they were fortunate to survive five minutes before the break; Adam O’Reilly needlessly flew into a tackle on Rio Shipton in Derry’s penalty area, completely taking out the Cork City man. It looked a blatant penalty, but to the amazement, and relief of the own fans, referee Aaron O’Dowd said no penalty.

Holt was proving to be City’s main threat and he almost dragged his team level right on half-time, sending a left-footed bullet past Troost from 20 yards, but the effort was just off target.

The frustration continued into the second half with Cork City looking the more likely to score after the break, and Maher had to be alert to tip over Couto’s curling free-kick.

Tiernan Lynch made two substitutes in response to his team’s lethargy, and one of those, Gavin Whyte, almost set up an equaliser with his first touch, setting up O’Reilly, but the midfielder side-footed wide from 15 yards when he should have scored.

But the home fans had the goal they desperately wanted on 65 minutes when Liam Boyce nodded the ball across a packed penalty area and Ronan Boyce produced a brilliant overhead kick to beat Troost and level the game with his first goal in 13 months.

Derry City then turned the game around completely as they stunned Cork with a second goal, Dom Thomas setting up Duffy, who drove past Darragh Crowley before drilling the ball low past Troost for his fifth goal of the season.

Teams

Derry City: Maher, R Boyce, Cann, Holt, Doherty (Benson 86’); Winchester (Todd 86’), O'Reilly, McMullan (Thomas 62’); Patton (Whyte 62’), L Boyce, Duffy.

Cork City: Trosst, Couto (Kiernan 81’), Shipston (Skieters 81’), Lyons, Keating, Nolan (Dunne 87’), O'Sullivan, Nelson (Fitzpatrick 70’), Murray, Crowley, Mbeng.

Referee: Aaron O'Dowd (Dublin).