Cork City Close to Premier Division Title After Win Over Wexford
Cork City will have to wait at least another week to rubber-stamp their return to the Premier Division, but Turner’s Cross left in no doubt: this title is theirs in all but name.
A 2-0 win over Wexford, driven again by 17-year-old sensation Cillian Murphy and the rejuvenated Seani Maguire, dragged the Leesiders to within two points of the First Division crown. The only thing missing was confirmation over the PA.
That never came.
UCD’s 89th-minute winner in a 5-4 epic against Finn Harps kept the champagne on ice, denying the 2,556 crowd the clinching moment they craved. The noise dipped when word filtered through, but the performance on the pitch carried the sound of a team already playing at a higher level.
Murphy and Maguire do it again
On Friday, Maguire had called Murphy the “star player in the whole league this year”. Twenty-four hours later, the teenager backed up every word.
After a couple of sharp cameos off the bench, Maguire was restored to the Cork City starting XI for the first time since June, with Charlie Lyons also coming in and Harry Nevin and Conor Drinan making way. Wexford, missing Max Murphy through suspension and without Robbie McCourt, reshuffled into a back five with Liam Doyle and Ryan Butler drafted in.
Before any of that settled, Turner’s Cross paused. A minute’s silence in memory of Tom Bolger, father of midfielder Greg, was impeccably observed, the ground holding its breath before the noise returned.
When it did, it was Wexford who struck the first notes. They started brighter and should have led when Mikie Rowe was released in space down the right, only for Conor Brann to stand tall and beat away his low drive.
Cork took time to find their rhythm. A direct ball finally gave them a foothold, Ruairí Keating forcing Paul Martin into action with a firm effort that the Wexford keeper clawed away.
Around the league, the early updates weren’t helping the party mood. Bray Wanderers and UCD both went in front inside 20 minutes, making it look unlikely that City would be crowned on the night. By the 40th minute, though, both had been pegged back, and UCD even trailed by half-time. The title door was creaking open again.
Back in Cork, Wexford kept threatening. Jake Doyle timed his run perfectly to break the offside trap, but Brann was out quickly, smothering the chance. Under new directives to speed up play, Martin was then penalised by referee Daryl Carolan for taking too long over a goal kick. The resulting corner caused panic, the keeper eventually tidying up amid a scramble.
City kept piling on set-pieces. From their sixth corner, Ryan Ritchie almost diverted into his own net, Martin reacting sharply to spare his defender’s blushes and ensure the sides went in level at the break.
They didn’t stay level for long.
Within minutes of the restart, City’s two headline acts combined. Niall O’Keeffe picked out Maguire’s clever run with a crisp pass, the former Ireland international darting into space and cutting the ball back. Murphy arrived right on cue, guiding a deft finish home for his sixth goal of the season.
Turner’s Cross erupted. Title or no title, their boy wonder had done it again.
Wexford tried to respond. Zayd Abada’s cross forced Brann to tip over, and Hans Mpongo slalomed through midfield to set up Joe Aidoo, who drilled just wide. The visitors kept probing but couldn’t match the clarity of City’s attacking movement.
The pressure finally told again on 74 minutes. Murphy, now running the show, won a corner and then delivered it himself. Maguire slipped free in the box, his movement too sharp for the Wexford defence. The finish was straightforward, a simple nod in from close range for his third goal in three games and 11th of an injury-hit season.
It felt like a title-winning goal. It wasn’t quite a title-winning night.
UCD chaos delays Cork’s coronation
All eyes drifted from Turner’s Cross to the updates from Belfield. With Bray losing, Cork’s only obstacle to an early celebration was UCD. The Students and Finn Harps produced a game that bordered on chaos.
Charles Akinrintayo had given Harps an early lead, only for two quickfire goals from Shaunie Bradley and Oran Brogan to flip the game on its head and send the visitors in 2-1 up at the break.
The second half descended into bedlam. Luca Cailloce and Louis Dignam struck to restore UCD’s advantage, before Gavin McAleer made it 3-3 with just under 20 minutes left. Three minutes later, Dignam hammered in a vicious free-kick from distance to put the Students back in front.
Harps refused to go away. Max Hutchinson levelled on 79 minutes, the eighth goal of an anarchic contest, and for a while it looked like Cork might yet get their moment.
Then came Hugh Smith.
As injury-time loomed, he delivered UCD’s fifth, the winner in a 5-4 classic that kept the title race alive on paper, if not in reality. Cork will now go to Bray next week with the chance to finish the job.
Promotion picture tightens below
Elsewhere, Bray’s slim hopes of automatic promotion were officially extinguished in Athlone. Endri Mustalli put Wanderers ahead early, but Athlone Town hit back. Will Smith equalised, and Peter Grogan struck shortly after the hour to seal a 2-1 win and hand Bray a second straight defeat in the midlands.
In Cobh, Longford Town let a two-goal lead slip but still clung to their place above Cobh Ramblers in the table. Dean Williams and Aaron Doran struck twice in three minutes before half-time to put Longford in control, only for Dara McCormick to pull one back shortly after the restart. Jonas Cohen Stjernberg then levelled with 20 minutes left.
Both sides remain in the play-off spots, sitting fourth and fifth, but Athlone and Kerry FC are closing fast after their victories.
Cork City, though, stand apart from that scrap. They have the points, the momentum, and a 17-year-old running games like a veteran. The title isn’t in their hands anymore.
It’s already in their grasp.
