Cork City 2 Longford Town 0

Leadership of the Premier Division will be up for grabs when Cork City clash with Dundalk at Turner’s Cross on Friday night following the Rebel Army’s win over Longford Town.

It wasn’t vintage stuff from the home side, but it didn’t need to be as the game ceased to be a contest following Colin Healy’s goal on 66 minutes to double the lead for John Caulfield’s side.

Before that, City had struggled at times for complete fluency but had taken the lead through Garry Buckley’s header on 41.

After Billy Dennehy’s cross hit the post, Buckley nodded home from close range. Soon after, Mark O’Sullivan should have added a second when left unmarked from another Dennehy delivery, but he headed wide.

Before that, Longford's Gary Shaw had had a great chance in the opening minutes but he clipped his shot over the bar after Jamie Mulhall played him in.

It was the closest they came up upsetting the odds, and Healy’s goal – a free kick from the left which travelled all the way to the net – decided matters.

Another win on Friday at the same venue against the current leaders and City would be at the summit for the first time this season.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Kavanagh, Murray, D Dennehy, Gaynor; Healy, Miller (Holohan 81); Djilali (Lehane 55), Buckley, B Dennehy; O'Sullivan (Morrissey 70).

LONGFORD TOWN: Skinner; Mulhall, Flynn, Tyrell, Powell; Simon, Rice, Gorman (Shannon 77), O'Connor, Deady (Ben Mohamed 61); Shaw (O'Sullivan 72).

Referee: J McKell (Tipperary)

Attendance: 2,511