Sam Todd’s first goal for Derry City earned his team a Quarter-Final spot in this season’s FAI Cup at the expense of Cork City.
The defender, on as a second-half substitute, rose highest to head home Ben Doherty’s corner to secure a very important win for Ruaidhri Higgins and his players at the home of the First Division’s runaway leaders.
The final scoreline does not do Cork justice, however, with the home side missing several big chances in a one-sided first-half, with Derry extraordinarily lucky to reach the break still in the game.
There was no doubt that the home side had the best opportunities in the game early on and the two big-name signings each had a chance to get their first goal back in Cork colours.
Cork’s first corner of the game should have resulted in a goal for Malik Dijksteel but he somehow missed his header from close range, but the ball still fell invitingly for Ruairi Keating, who volleyed over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score.
Dijksteel then set up Sean Maguire, sending the Cork striker through on goal, but he took his shot early and sent it right across goal past Maher but also past the far post.
The home side were busy all over the pitch and Maher had to come to Derry’s rescue on 25 minutes when O’Reilly lost the ball to Dijksteel, who flicked the ball through for Keating and went through on goal only to be denied by the visiting goalkeeper, who was off his line quickly to block.
The first-half ended with Derry cut wide open again and again it was Dijksteel doing the damage, sending Maguire through on goal again; this time the striker got it right and beat Maher but Cork were denied by an incredible goal line clearance from Ciaran Coll.
Cork were unable to raise themselves to the same levels as they did in the first period and they paid the price when Derry broke the deadlock on 72 minutes.
Unable to create anything from open play, the visitors were left relying on set-plays and they made one count when Doherty’s corner found substitute Todd, who headed in his first ever goal for the club.
Shane McEleney should have made sure of Derry’s progress with ten minutes remaining as another set-play caught Cork cold, but he somehow headed wide from less than six yards from another pinpoint Doherty corner.
The visitors almost paid the price for that miss as Cork came so close to equalising within 60 seconds, substitute Cian Murphy’s volley fingertipped over the bar by an alert Maher.
Cork City: Wade, Coleman, Bolger, Dijksteel (Murphy 76), Murray, McLaughlin, Crowley, Lyons, O’Sullivan, Maguire, Keating.
Derry City: Maher, Doherty, S McEleney, Coll, Dummigan, O’Reilly (Todd 53), Patching, McMullan (Kelly 86), Duffy, Mullen (Dialo 71), Hoban.
Referee: Marc Lynch
Man of the Match: Brian Maher
Match Rating: 7/10