Oct 19,2024
Cork City celebrated their First Division trophy presentation with their biggest win of the season, putting six past play-off-bound Wexford to complete an unbeaten home campaign.
Cathal O'Sullivan scored another stunning brace against his favourite opponents while Ruairí Keating, Seani Maguire, Cian Bargary, and Malik Dijksteel all found the net.
For the second time in three years, Cian Coleman lifted the First Division trophy surrounded by his teammates and a 4,268 crowd. They will hope not to be back down here again.
Tim Clancy's first press conference as City manager included the promise of goals. He will take personal pride that this haul pushed them past Wexford to finish as the Division's top scorers with 64.
The visitors will hope they can shake off this morale-crushing defeat. Their late-season surge saw them pipped into third place but a play-off against Athlone Town awaits.
Only three minutes after receiving a guard of honour onto the field from Wexford, City opened the scoring. Greg Bolger lofted a ball in behind the defence and Keating's first-time strike had enough to beat the Wexford keeper for his fifth goal since re-signing.
After a brief lull, City began to ramp up the heat again. Keating twice came close to his second, with one shot rolling just wide of the far post.
The pressure paid off. By the half-hour, City had netted twice in three minutes, beginning with O'Sullivan rifling in a loose ball from the edge of the box.
Maguire then decided to get in on the act. It came from fine defensive play by Charlie Lyons and Evan McLaughin's pass. Maguire swivelled into space and fired under goalie Conor Walsh for his seventh goal in seven games.
Keating looked certain to add another when unselfishly teed up by Maguire but Lewis Temple headed off a crowded goalline. More last-ditch defending by Seán McHale took the ball off Maguire's toe.
McHale came forward in stoppage time for a long throw-in and his headed effort was the closest Wexford came all half.
Their second-half efforts were already better after 18 seconds when Kian Corbally's brilliant drive cannoned back off the crossbar.
In the 59th minute, O'Sullivan made it four with an outstanding run and curled finish; the teenager's seventh goal of the season mirroring his Ferrycarrig Park double.
Darragh Crowley almost celebrated his new contract with a goal but Walsh tipped over. From McLaughlin's corner, substitute Cian Bargary was visibly thrilled to head in for his first goal since May.
Before long, it was six. Crowley beat his man to supply a tap-in finish for Dijksteel.
Defeat for Wexford meant that UCD were able to take second-spot in the league with a 2-2 draw at home to Longford Town.
The Students had to battle from two goals down as Oisin Hand and Emmanuel James had to visitors in control with 15 minutes to go.
However late goals from Hugh Parker and Mikey McCullagh saw UCD snatch a point to finish ahead of Wexford in the table on goal difference.
Athlone Town took third place in the table and with it a play-off against Wexford, despite losing 2-0 away to Kerry FC. A first-half goal for Cian Brosnan set Kerry on their way before Kennedy Amechi's effort just after the restart wrapped things up for the side who finished bottom of the league.
Elsewhere, play-off bound Bray Wanderers slumped to a 3-0 defeat away to Cobh Ramblers.
The Seagulls will need to show major improvement if they're to have any hopes of promotion as two goals from Jack Larkin and a late one from Jason Abbott saw Ramblers finish with a win.
In the night's other game Treaty United came from a goal down to beat Finn Harps 2-1. Conor Tourish put Harps in front before second-half goals from Thomas Considine and Mark Byrne decided things in United's favour.
Cork City: Brad Wade; Darragh Crowley, Cian Coleman, Cian Lyons, Evan McLaughlin (Barry Coffey 77); Cathal O'Sullivan (Cian Bargary 64), Seán Murray, Greg Bolger (Matthew Kiernan 57), Malik Dijksteel (Josh Fitzpatrick 77); Ruairí Keating (Cian Murphy 64), Seán Maguire.
Wexford: Conor Walsh; Divin Isamala, Lewis Temple, Cian O’Malley (Benjamin Lynch 46), Seán McHale; Luka Lovic (Kaylem Harnett 60), Ethan Boyle; Reece Webb (Mark Hanratty 46), Kian Corbally, Thomas Oluwa (Conor Crowley 70); Aaron Dobbs (Cian Curtis 60).
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.
