League Report: Galway United 0 - 1 Cork City

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Cork City returned to the top of the First Division table with a 1-0 win over Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

A wonderful goal by Matt Healy in the first half gave the Rebels the three points and puts Colin Healy’s side a point clear of the Tribesmen.

John Caulfield made no changes to his starting eleven from their 3-0 win over Athlone Town last Friday night.

Cork City made one change from their draw with Wexford last week, which saw them drop to second in the First Division table, Barry Coffey dropped to the bench with Josh Honohan taking his place.

Gary Boylan went close in the opening minutes when Cian Coleman cleared a David Hurley corner-kick with a towering header in the box, the Tribesman fired off the shot from the edge of the box, but the ball whizzed over the bar.

The Rebels hit the target in the ninth minute with Ruairí Keating getting a chance to score against his former club after a good pass from Matt Healy. Keating raced toward the edge of the box before striking the ball at goal, Conor Kearns was able to turn the ball behind, however.

Cork hit the front in the 18^th minute with Healy scoring a glorious strike from the edge of the box after picking it up from a pass from the left flank. He turned towards goal and rifled the shot into the top right corner.

Cian Murphy nearly put the visitors up front after a spectacular run through the Galway defence, beating Diego Portilla on his way. The forward took the ball into the box but fired wide at close range – that was after taking contact from a challenge by Portilla that, had Murphy gone down, could have yielded a penalty.

United were almost back on level terms in the 28^th minute with Josh Honohan taking a Wilson Waweru header off the line, Alex Murphy was able to follow up with a shot, but goalkeeper David Harrington was able to make a fantastic save to deny the defender.

Waweru had another chance to score just before half time with Max Hemmings finding the striker’s head with a great cross from the right wing, he glanced the ball wide of the goal to the relief of the Rebels.

The Tribesmen had their own penalty shout deep into injury time in the first half when it appeared that Waweru was pulled off the ball by a Cork defender, referee Oliver Moran waved it away though, with manager John Caulfield clearly fuming on the side line at the decision.

Second half substitute Manu Dimas nearly fooled Harrington with a floated cross from the right wing with an hour gone after some great play by the Spaniard. The ball drifted closer and closer to goal and Harrington potentially lost the ball briefly in the setting sun but mercifully for the Rebels it veered beyond the far post and wide.

There was a major moment with just over twenty minutes to go when Keating received his marching orders from Oliver Moran. The striker appeared to strike Diego Portilla as the defender was tracking back, right in front of the fourth official which resulted in the former Tribesman ending his night early.

David Hurley went very close when he fancied his chances from distance on the left wing, the ball looked to be sailing into the goal with Harrington only able to palm the ball over the bar to hold on to the Rebels slender lead.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; Diego Portilla (Conor O'Keeffe 77), Alex Murphy, Killian Brouder; Conor McCormack, Edward McCarthy (Ronan Manning 77), David Hurley, Max Hemmings (Francely Lomboto 81), Gary Boylan (Manu Dimas 46); Stephen Walsh, Wilson Waweru (Jordan Adeyemo 84).

Subs not used: Conor Brann, Ben Molloy, Charlie Lyons, Evan O'Connor.

Booked: Manu Dimas (67).

Cork City: David Harrington; Ally Gilchrist, Jonas Hakkinen, Josh Honohan, Kevin O'Connor; Cian Bargary, Aaron Bolger, Cian Coleman, Matt Healy (Darragh Crowley 87); Ruairi Keating, Cian Murphy (Ronan Hurley 82).

Subs not used: Jimmy Corcoran, Uniss Kargbo, Kieran Coates, Dylan McGlade, James Doona, Barry Coffey, Mark O'Mahony.

Booked: Cian Bargary (70) .

Sent off: Ruairi Keating (67).

Referee: Oliver Moran.

Attendance: 3,500 (estimate)

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