Sport

Derry snatch a late point

Cork City 1 Derry City 1: A LATE Conor Sammon strike deep into injury-time extended Cork's poor to start to the season at Turner…

Sat Mar 22 2008 - 00:00

Cork City 1 Derry City 1:A LATE Conor Sammon strike deep into injury-time extended Cork's poor to start to the season at Turner's Cross last night after Dave Mooney had given the hosts the lead.

Mooney's 12th-minute strike ended a barren run that had blighted his start to the season.

But Sammon was also on the hunt for a first goal so he'll be forgiven for enjoying that equaliser as much as Mooney seemed to enjoy his strike from 18 yards.

Danny Murphy was back in at left back for Cork, while Derry manager Stephen Kenny made two changes. Ciarán Martyn was in for Mark Farren, and Gerard Doherty replaced the injured Darren Quigley in goal.

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The early goal came as no surprise following the lively opening exchanges. Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine was forced into a double save after a minute, while John O'Flynn turned a decent chance wide with his head.

O'Flynn made amends, though, for that long-awaited home goal. Dropping deep on the right flank, he found Colin Healy with a first-time pass, although the former Ireland international still had to work hard to pull a pass back to Mooney, who turned well to create some space for himself before firing a low shot into the bottom corner.

But as an entertaining game continued, Cork found a second goal to be elusive. Chances from Liam Kearney and O'Flynn as well as a couple from Mooney could have finished the game off.

However, Derry battled back as Cork shuffled their pack once too often. Goalkeeper Devine had to get down well as full-time approached to thwart Farren again, while Barry Molloy was unlucky just before that in the 81st minute.

The warnings were there and Cork, to their cost, failed to heed them. In the fourth and final minute of injury-time, Kevin McHugh crossed into a crowded box and Sammon made no mistake to score from close range.

CORK CITY: M Devine; N Horgan, C Lordan, D Murray (capt), D Murphy; G O'Callaghan, J Gamble, C Healy, L Kearney; D Mooney, J O'Flynn. Subs: D Behan for O'Flynn (61 mins); P Sullivan for Mooney (81 mins). D Ryan, D Mulcahy and M McNulty not used.

DERRY CITY: G Doherty; E McCallion, C Delaney, P Hutton (capt), S Gray; B Molloy; N McGinn, R Higgins, C Martyn, P McCourt; K McHugh. Subs: M Farren for Martyn (45 mins); C Sammon for McGinn (65 mins); O Morrison for McCourt (76 mins). A Callaghan and G McGlynn not used.

Referee: R Winter.