Cork City maintain impressive early season form

Cork City maintained their impressive early season SSE Airtricity First Division form with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Athlone Town on Friday night.

Ruairi Keating had them in command early on, scoring a brace inside 18 minutes at Turners Cross - the second from the penalty spot.

It was three on 25 minutes as Cian Murphy got in on the act, before Carlton Ubaezuonu pulled one back for the visitors.

Barry Coffey scored his fourth goal of the season after the break to move City three points clear at the top, while Aaron Connolly was brought on, booked, and then sent off for Athlone in a 15-minute second-half spell.

Second-placed Galway United were beaten 2-1 by Longford Town despite taking the lead through an own goal at Bishopsgate. Sam Verdon had the sides level before half-time, and Darren Craven's well-taken second gave the midlanders all three points.

Waterford, who started the day a point off the leaders, were beaten 2-1 by Treaty United in the Munster derby at Markets Field.

Matt Keane and Enda Curran did the scoring for Treaty, before Anthony Wordsworth gave Waterford hope with a quarter of an hour to go.

Tunmise Sobowale was sent off for the Blues after a poor challenge on Curran at start of the second half.

The night's other game ended in a stalemate as Bray and Wexford finished scoreless at the Carlisle Grounds.