Derry City - 0 Cork City - 1: Cork City set up what will be a truly mouth-watering clash of the top two in the Premier Division this coming Friday night at Tolka Park following this all too slender victory over a brave Derry City last night

And it was clear from the outset that Cork have no intention of making it easy for Shelbourne as they attempt to retain their title.

Pat Dolan's men are now just four points adrift of the Dublin side and a win on Friday would see the race for the title blown wide open.

In what proved a bright and positive opening at a blustery Brandywell, the visitors appeared to have justifiable claims for a penalty early on when Gareth McGlynn appeared to bundle Greg O'Halloran over when inside the area. However, referee, Ian Stokes, dismissed those claims.

But once settled, the home side went close when Ruaidhri Higgins brought the best out of Michael Devine in the seventh minute, the goalkeeper superbly touching the 30-yard shot over his crossbar.

In the 12th minute, a George O'Callaghan free-kick crashed through the defensive wall before David Forde got down well to make a crucial save on the goal line.

In a what was developing into fierce battle of apparent equals, Derry's Damien Brennan crashed a long-range effort off the crossbar in the 34th minute with Devine beaten.

But it was Cork who broke the deadlock two minutes later following a fluent move down the right.

Neal Horgan dispossessed Killian Brennan, the ball was swept through to John O'Flynn and his first touch set up Kevin Doyle who raced between two defenders to guide the ball home from 10 yards.

And just before the break the home side went tantalisingly close to equalising when, in the 43rd minute of the game, a Killian Brennan curling free-kick was magnificently touched wide by an alert Devine.

Cork refused to rest on their laurels, though, and maintained the momentum after the break. Indeed, they really should have doubled their lead in the 57th minute.

A high ball from skipper Dan Murray caught the home defence out and then Doyle sent a lob over the head of the advancing Devine, the ball agonisingly rebounding off the top of the crossbar.

Derry were also dangerous and following a 67th-minute corner the ball was beaten out into the path of Kevin Deery but his shot screamed wide of the upright.

Cork, however, kept their shape and while O'Flynn and Doyle were a constant threat on the break, Pat Dolan's back four remained resolute and unflustered until the finish.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Hutton, Delaney, D Brennan; McGlynn, Higgins, Deery, K Brennan; Farren, Murphy. Subs. Martyn for Higgins (62 mins); Beckett for McGlynn (69 mins); Byrne for McCallion (77 mins)

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, D Murray, Bennett, O'Halloran; Woods, O'Callaghan, Gamble, Kearney; O'Flynn, Doyle.

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin).