Cork City 2 - 0 UCD

World Champion Rob Heffernan was an interested spectator as Cork City strolled to a comfortable 2-0 win over UCD thanks to two early goals from Ian Turner at Turner’s Cross on Friday evening.

The season is ending too soon for a City side now on their best form of the season with five wins in their last six league games.

The end of the season can’t come quick enough for UCD who slipped closer to the danger zone after Bohemians’ win against Derry City.

City started the game on the front foot and took an early lead through an Ian Turner penalty in the tenth minute.

The winger won the penalty for his side as his right wing cross was handled in the area by Gary Burke and Turner stepped up to fire the ball into the top left corner.

UCD had their first chance on 13 minutes when Burke’s free-kick from the left fell to Cillian Morrison but the City defence scrambled the ball clear before the powerful striker could get a shot away.

And the Students were nearly in again moments later when  Robbie Benson played in Burke but Danny Murphy nipped in to clear the danger.

City’s lead was doubled after 16 minutes when Turner cut in from the right and his weak effort was heading straight at UCD keeper Mark McGinley until UCD skipper Mick Leahy stuck out a leg and the deflection took the ball just past McGinley’s despairing dive.

Daryl Horgan could have made it 3-0 inside 20 minutes when he jinked inside two defenders on the left but he sliced his shot well wide.

A minute later, UCD were almost back in it when Morrison did well to create space on the edge of the box but his scuffed shot was well saved by Mark McNulty.

City then began to dominate with Gearóid Morrissey having a shot blocked before Turner’s superb first time volleyed cross was well cleared by the Students defence.

UCD survived the onslaught and should have reduced the arrears before the break when Robbie Creevy met Burke’s corner from the left with a diving header but the ball flew inches over the bar.

Cork City’s on-loan striker Ciarán Kilduff had two great chances to put the result beyond doubt at the beginning of the second half but a good save by McGinley and some wayward finishing kept the score at 2-0.

After the bright opening to the second period, the game turned into a bit of a non-event with City controlling but unable to seal the points and UCD content to play on the counter attack.

Gearóid Morrissey struck a superb free-kick just over the bar in one of the few highlights with his namesake Danny fluffing a great chance when he totally mis-timed a header inside the six yard box.

Substitute Craig Walsh fired an effort over the bar from 40 yards with five minutes remaining but that was as close as the Students came in the second half as City maintained their good run of form.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Garry Buckley, Dan Murray (c), Danny Murphy; Ian Turner (Colin Healy 58), Shane Duggan, Gearóid Morrissey (John Dunleavy 77), Daryl Horgan; Ciarán Kilduff, Danny Morrissey.
Subs not used: Dave Ryan, Kalen Spillane, Brian Lenihan, Stephen Kenny.

Bookings: D Murray (31), Duggan (34).

UCD: Mark McGinley; Gareth Matthews (Hugh Douglas 52), David O’Connor, Mick Leahy, Mark Langtry; Gary Burke, Robbie Creevy (Craig Walsh 79), Barry McCabe, Sean Russell; Robbie Benson, Cillian Morrison (Dean Clarke 54).
Subs not used: Ger Barron, James Kavanagh, Michael Kelly, Tom O’Halloran.

Bookings: Leahy (65), Creevy (70)

Referee: Kevin O’Regan

Attendance: 1,658

Extratime Man of the Match: Ian Turner (Cork City.