Cork City lost 2-1 to Longford Town in their First Division match on Saturday night, a result that tests their 18-point lead at the top of the table. Daragh Murtagh and Aaron Doran scored for the hosts before Greg Bolger's late 22-yard strike provided a consolation in the second minute of added time.
The defeat at Bishopsgate was Cork City's second consecutive loss to Longford Town, following a 4-3 reverse at Turners Cross earlier in the season. The visitors, who remain first with 71 points from 32 games, made four substitutions in a 57th-minute reshuffle but could not find an equaliser after Bolger's goal.
Longford Town took the lead in first-half stoppage time. After Fiacre Kelleher cleared a low cross from Sultan Adenekan, Scott Brady pounced and set up Daragh Murtagh to finish. Cork City created chances after the break, with Sean Maguire seeing a header saved and Ruairi Keating hitting the crossbar on the rebound in the 73rd minute.
Aaron Doran then made it 2-0 in the 84th minute, finishing a move teed up by Murtagh. Substitute Greg Bolger, who had replaced Darragh Crowley on the hour mark, pulled one back with a powerful drive from distance, but Longford held on for the remaining moments. The win moves Longford Town up to fourth place and back into the play-off positions.
Cork City now turn their attention to an away fixture against sixth-placed Athlone Town on Friday, 2 October.
