First Division champions Cork sign off in style

Cork City signed off their SSE Airtricity First Division title-winning season in style as they defeated Bray Wanderers 2-0 in front of a jubilant crowd of 5,507 at Turner's Cross. Second-half goals from Barry Coffey and Ruairí Keating were enough to secure the victory for City before the title and promotion party could truly begin when captain Cian Coleman lifted the silverware aloft.

Both sides rang the changes from their respective games last Friday night as City made six from their 3-2 defeat away to Athlone Town while Bray made five from their 5-1 loss at home to Cobh Ramblers.

With City already securing the league crown and with Wanderers only needing a draw, or a favourable result elsewhere, to secure seventh, it was no surprise that the first half here was lacking in intensity.

But it wasn’t without its chances as Jonas Hakkinen almost gave the champions the lead in the second minute but his header from Kevin O’Connor’s corner was hacked off the line.

Goalkeeper Mark McNulty was making his 482nd and final appearance for the Rebel Army - his 375th in the league - and before he was substituted in the 25th minute, he was forced to save Ben Feeney’s low drive.

His last act in a City shirt ought to have been picking the ball out of his net but after Jack Hudson latched onto a poor back pass and rounded the veteran shot-stopper, he could only blast his effort into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.

City were unfortunate not to break the deadlock just shy of the half an hour mark but after goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness fumbled O’Connor’s cross, Darragh Crowley fired the loose ball against the near post.

The duo combined again shortly before the half-time break but on this occasion, it was Crowley’s sensational