Classy City second half hacks Blue hearts

📷 KBD Photos

After a huge blow a week prior, Cork City returned to winning ways on Friday night as they once again beat Waterford 2-0 in the Munster Derby at the Cross live on Virgin Media 2. City went a goal to the good on the stroke of half time after a sub-par first half performance, but hugely improved in the second to double their lead and grab all three points.

Ger Nash named an unchanged team for this one, as the side that lost at the hands of Bohs last week looked to redeem themselves.

John Coleman made four changes to his side that were beaten by Sligo Rovers last time out, with Rowan McDonald, Jesse Dempsey, Kacper Radkowski and Joshua Miles all coming into the lineup, replacing Andy Boyle, Jordan Rossiter, Ronan Mansfield and Grant Horton.

Despite City having an early goal disallowed for a questionable offside decision, it was the visitors who had the better start of the two teams, and could've gone a goal up after eleven minutes. Muhammadu Faal got the ball down the right wing and ran, before pulling it into the right channel for the oncoming Josh Miles. Miles fired a shot goalward but Conor Brann made a great save to keep the game level.

City did have chances of their own, and almost found a lucky break to give them the lead. The hosts won a free kick thirty yards out. McLaughlin went to hit a shot towards goal, but Ryan Burke got a head to it to deflect it narrowly over the bar.

It was still all Waterford so far and they almost capitalised on a City mistake to finally take the lead in the thirty fourth minute. A loose pass from Kaedyn Kamara whilst trying to play out was intercepted by Padraig Amond. He slipped the ball through to Conan Noonan, but Conor Brann stood tall to deny Noonan from close range.

Brann continued his heroics three minutes later. A free kick was floated towards the back post but City half-cleared with a looping header. The ball fell to Amond at a tight angle who caught it on the volley and his top corner bound shot had to be tipped away by Brann.

Despite their dominance, it was Waterford who shipped the first goal of the game on the stroke of half time. Kitt Nelson picked out the run of Matt Murray down the left hand side, before the youngster put a ball across goal. The cross came off the knee of Rowan McDonald and arrived at Evan McLaughlin on the edge of the box, who fired a volley into the bottom right corner to give City the lead.

That was that for the first half, as despite the visitors being the better of the two sides, it was City who went into the break a goal to the good.

The goal seemed to have lit a match under Ger Nash’s side as they came out much better in the second half, and were rewarded with a second goal in the fifty fourth minute. Matthew Murray intercepted a loose pass while the visitors played out from the back and was able to guide the ball home to double his side’s lead. Murray did have to come off after being fouled while shooting.

City chased a third and almost got it with eighteen minutes to play. A short corner led to McLaughlin firing a ball across the box. Freddie Anderson latched onto it and sent a first time effort goalward but Stephen McMullan reacted well to keep it out.

Waterford needed to get a goal back but were again denied a minute later by Conor Brann. Trae Bailey Coyle whipped a ball across the box from the right hand side and it reached Amond who had a tap in, but Brann made himself big to somehow keep it out from close range.

That would be the last big action of the game as a much improved second half from Cork City meant they were able to hang on and come away with a comfortable 2-0 win. John Coleman will feel quite disappointed that his side couldn't grab a goal in a first half where they were quite dominant. That being said, an inspired performance by Conor Brann meant that their job of scoring was much more difficult than perhaps it should've been. I don't think this performance is any sign of a great escape to be honest. I need to see the gap closed far more before I begin to seriously believe that staying up is possible, but at least there are good signs that there's some fight in the team.

My Man of the Match goes to Conor Brann. As I said already, Waterford were dominant in the first half of the game, but the reason they went into half time without a goal to their name, was Conor Brann. He’s been brilliant since stepping into the side after David Odumosu got injured, and he’ll play a crucial part to any potential great escape.

City take this win into the international break, and when they return they’ll face Finn Harps in an FAI Cup quarter final in Ballybofey. It’s an even longer wait to return for Waterford, but when they do they'll travel to face Bohemians.