Tiarnan Mulvenna's 86th minute goal was enough to give Dundalk victory over a very disappointing Cork City at Oriel Park.

 

Mulvenna forced the ball home after City goalkeeper Dan Connor had failed to hold on to Michael McGowan's left wing cross to send the home crowd wild.

 

It was just rewards for Sean Connor's side who completely dominated the second-half. The result moves the Lilywhites 10 points behind Cork in fouth place.

 

The Leesiders opened brightly with Stephen O'Donnell - who looked in pre-season like he was on the verge of joining Dundalk - having a deft effort from 18-yards turned round the post by Peter Cherrie after just three minutes.

 

The Scottish goalkeeper then showed safe hands six minutes later to gather Billy Dennehy's vicious inswinging free-kick. City goalkeeper Dan Connor matched Cherrie at the other end with a confident take from Michael McGowan's pacey delivery.

 

Dundalk gradually settled into the game with Michael Daly a whisker away from picking out McGowan with a cross from the right. McGowan then floated a ball over Connor's reach from the byline but Dan Murray and Kevin Lowe managed to get a block on Daly's goal bound toe-poke in the 23rd minute.

 

The entertainment nose-dived from then on with the remainder of the first-half a scrappy and dull affair with plenty of passion on show but very little quality. It was no surprise to see the teams go in scoreless at the break.

 

The home side should have hit the front in the 50th minute. Kevin McKinlay's pass set Tiarnan Mulvenna away on the left. His shot across goal was only parried by Connor but Ger Rowe completely missed his kick with the goal at his mercy.

 

Rowe then side footed at Connor from 18-yards before Mulvenna whistled an effort past the post in the 64th minute with McGowan unmarked at the far post.

 

Sean Connor's side pushed for the breakthrough with Daly again going close with a header from Shaun Kelly's cross.

 

The excellent McGowan then went close with a blistering half volley from 20-yards which rebounded off the post and away to safety before Mulvenna popped up with the late winner to send Oriel Park wild.

 

Dundalk: Cherrie; Kelly, Burns, Coburn, McKinlay; Daly, Turner, McAreavey (Collins 58), McGowan; Rowe, Mulvenna.

 

Substitutes Not Used: Bennion, Murphy, McGinlay, Mansaram.

 

Cork City: Connor; Lordan, Murray, Long, O'Halloran; O'Neil (Duggan 81), Gamble, O'Donnell, Dennehy; Silagailis (Kuduzovic 61), Cambridge.

 

Substitutes Not Used: McNulty, Mulcahy, Deasy.

 

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).