League Report: UCD 0 - 1 Cork City

YET another Billy Dennehy goal shot Cork City back to the top of the league with a one nil victory over UCD at the Bowl.

After an opening seven minutes without a chance, the first one resulted in the opening goal. Mark O’Sullivan fed John Kavanagh down the right and he shot at Conor O’Donnell.

The stopper pushed the ball away but only into the path of former Hoop Dennehy and he did the honours, volleying the ball past the hapless stopper for his sixth goal of the season.

Following the opener, UCD came more into the game, Samir Belhout was at the heart of it. Twenty minutes in, his cross was almost met by the head of Cillian Morrison.

26 minutes in, Dan Murray thought he had extended the Rebels lead. He headed against the crossbar following a Gearoid Morrissey cross.

Buckley hammered home the rebound, he was adjudged to be offside, to the dismay of the travelling support.

On the half hour mark, the outlook of the game changed. After dispossessing Darren Murphy, Cillian Morrison broke at the Cork City defence.

As he ran through though, Darren Dennehy came flying in off his feet and caught Morrison. Referee Padraigh Sutton was left with no other choice but to show the defender red and reduce the Rebels to ten men.

Two minutes before the break, Cork could have doubled their advantage. A corner from the left by John Kavanagh was inches from being headed home by Mark O’Sullivan, but he misjudged his timing and it bounced to safety.

Despite the man advantage, UCD found themselves under pressure from the league's only unbeaten side in the second half’s early stages.

A Brian Lenihan cross ten minutes into the second half was almost turned home by Garry Buckley but Hugh Douglas got a vital late touch to keep it out.

Morrissey was close to a Rebels second on the hour mark when he drove the ball towards O’Donnell’s goal, but also over the bar.

UCD finally began to get a foothold in proceedings after the hour mark but their best sights on goal came when Robbie Benson broke from midfield to the edge of the Cork area before losing the ball under pressure.

Goalscorer Dennehy continued to be a constant threat for the visitors and with twenty minutes remaining, he attempted a curling effort from the right which dipped inches wide of the post.

Again, Cork created a good opportunity to double their lead with little over 15 minutes remaining. Dennehy was once again at the heart of it, crossing to the back post.

That header was knocked down by O’Sullivan into the path of sub Liam Kearney. He tried to dink the ball over O’Donnell but the keeper was equal to it.

With ten minutes left on the clock, UCD finally forced Mark McNulty into a save. Benson picked up the ball at the edge of the box, promptly driving a low shot right at the Cork stopper.

The Students almost grabbed an equaliser three times in the space of sixty seconds, three minutes from time. First, sub Thomas O’Halloran saw his shot tipped around the post by McNulty.

From that corner, Barker’s volley was batted away by McNulty to Benson. He controlled before shooting at the keeper, who this time held it.

UCD:Conor O’Donnell; Gareth Matthews (Michael Barker 53), Hugh Douglas, James Kavanagh, Mark Langtry (Thomas O’Halloran 85); Robbie Creevy, Colm Crowe; Samir Belhout, Robbie Benson, Chris Mulhall(Michael Scott 86); Cillian Morrison
Subs not used: Mark McGinley (GK), Gary Burke, Dwayne Wilson, Barry McCabe

Booked: Matthews (51)

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Brian Lenihan, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, John Dunleavy; John Kavanagh, Darren Murphy (Liam Kearney 62), Gearoid Morrissey, Billy Dennehy; Garry Buckley; Mark O’Sullivan.
Subs not used:Matt Gledhill (GK), Rob Lehane, Dave O’Leary, Kevin Mulcahy, Colin Healy, Andy O’Connell.

Booked: B Dennehy (30).
Sent off: D Dennehy (29).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton

Attendance: 442

Extratime.ie Man of the match: Billy Dennehy (Cork City)