First Division: Cork lay down marker at home to Longford

Cork City 4 Longford Town 1

Cork City remain three points clear at the top of the First Division table as they claimed a significant 4-1 victory against promotion rivals Longford Town at Turner's Cross on Friday night.

A Barry Coffey brace, a superb strike from Darragh Crowley, and an own goal were enough to see City come from behind to beat Longford, who opened the scoring through Sam Verdon

The victory keeps them three points clear at the top of the table.

After a tame opening to the game, City twice went close to scoring from set-pieces but shortly after Ally Gilchrist sent his free header from close range over the crossbar.

Cian Coleman, who headed in the winner against Cobh, nodded wide of the near post following another great Matt Healy cross.

Longford ought to have taken the lead midway through the first half, but after David Harrington’s rushed clearance fell kindly to him, Eric Molloy’s first-time effort was too close to the goalkeeper and allowed him to make the save.

The lively Ryan Graydon saw a powerful strike easily saved moments later before City needed Jonas Hakkinen to turn a dangerous delivery from Darren Craven, who later suffered a knock and was replaced by Karl Chambers, across the face of his own goal and wide of the far post.

The game sparked into life when the first half was drawing to a close and it started with Cian Murphy driving a low shot straight at goalkeeper Luke Dennison when he was released by a great through ball from his strike partner Ruairí Keating.

It seemed like the Rebel Army would rue missing that chance as Longford finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when captain Sam Verdon rose highest and headed Chambers’ excellent cross into the far bottom left corner of the net.

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