SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Derry City 2 Cork City 0
GOALS from Patrick McEleney and Jordan McEneff ensured Derry City eased to their first victory of the season, brushing aside Cork City at a sold-out Ryan McBride Brandywell.
Ruaidhrí Higgins' side were always in control and with champions Shamrock Rovers only managing a 1-1 draw at Drogheda United, next week's encounter at Tallaght Stadium is set up nicely.
In fact, the Dubliners will be missing defensive trio Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace and Daniel Cleary, the latter two getting their marching orders in their draw against Kevin Doherty's men.
The Candystripes made two changes to the side which drew at St Patrick's Athletic, with Ben Doherty and McEleney replacing injured duo Cameron McJannet and Adam O'Reilly.
Derry went close on seven minutes but Doherty's 25-yard drive was easily pushed away by Cork goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi.
Neither side created much after Oluwayemi's save, but he was nearly left helpless on 24 minutes as Ally Gilchrist went close to marking his Brandywell return with an own goal, as he headed McEneff's effort inches wide.
The home side deservedly took the lead moments later as McEleney's lovely curling 25-yard effort nestled in Oluwayemi's bottom left corner.
Cork missed a glorious chance to equalise just before the interval as Brian Maher came to Derry's rescue keeping out Barry Coffey's close-range shot.
The Rebel Army created an opening early in the second half as Joshua Honohan's centre picked out Coffey, but the midfielder's close-range header at the back post was well wide.
Derry added a second on 64 minutes as Ryan Graydon's low cross found McEneff and the midfielder calmly slotted home his second goal in as many games, side-footing past Oluwayemi.
Cork were nearly gifted a lifeline on 82 minutes as Doherty's header back to Maher flew past the out-rushing keeper, but the Dubliner rushed back onto his line to claw the ball back.
Maher was called into action again moments later as Cork hit the home side on the counter, but substitute Daniel Krezic's shot from the left hand angle was tipped over by the Derry goalkeeper.
Derry City: Maher, Coll, S McEleney, Connolly, Doherty; P McEleney, Patching, McEneff (B Kavanagh 74); Graydon, McGonigle (C Kavanagh 74), O'Neill (Boyce 86).
Cork City: Oluwayemi, Coleman, Gilchrist, Bolger, Keating, Coffey (Owolabi 80), Bargary, Crowley, Honohan, Varian (Krezic 70), Häkkinen.
Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo)
OTHER RESULTS
Bohemians 2 Dundalk 1
Drogheda 1 Shamrock Rovers 1
St Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shelbourne 0
UCD 2 Sligo Rovers 3
