First Division: Ruairi Keating late show earns Cork City derby spoils against Cobh Ramblers

Ruairi Keating's first goal since returning to Cork City last month helped the club defeat local rivals Cobh Ramblers by the minimum at St Colman’s Park.

The striker rose the highest to head in a Cathal O’Sullivan cross in the first minute of injury time, and that puts the Rebel Army 18 points clear at the top of the League of Ireland First Division table.

Cobh battled hard, despite the 41st-minute dismissal of Jason Abbot after the midfielder received a second yellow card.

The first half was a close affair, with clear-cut chances few and far between at both ends.

City did have the majority of possession, their issue was finding a way through the Cobh defence.

Ireland international Sean Maguire was the first player to go for goal, and his attempt in the third minute went out for a corner that came to nothing. Greg Bolger followed that up by picking out the striker with a free-kick, and that ended with the ball going out for a goal-kick.

The Ramblers held firm and their first adventure with numbers saw a driven effort by Abbott blocked down by Sean Murray.

City rarely gave an inch in the final third, and their next advance saw a tame effort by Maguire getting kicked away by Cian Browne.

Tim Clancy’s side never deviated from their game-plan. They continued to target the wings, where Keating waited for the ball, they just struggled to put together a move that got Darragh Burke off his line.

Cobh buckled down and broke when space allowed them to get forward in numbers. This led to an opportunity for Regix Madika, and his shot from the edge of the area drew a stretched save by Brad Wade.

Just as Cobh seemed to find their feet in an attacking sense, Abbott was shown a second yellow card and the home side were reduced to ten.

It was 0-0