Report: UCD 0 - 2 Cork City

Cork City moved up to third place in the table on Friday night thanks to a Dave Mooney inspired two nil win over UCD at the Belfield Bowl. Mooney struck twice in the space of twelve minutes to give the Leesiders a lead that UCD never once looked like coming back from. The result leaves Pete Mahons side back in the relegation zone, with a poor return of just thirteen points from sixteen games.

Paul Byrne was still sidelined with a hamstring injury, so striker Timmy Purcell was given the chance to stake a claim for a regular slot in the starting line up. Ronan Finn was asked to play on the right hand side of midfield, with the more defensive minded Brian King and Alan McNally in the centre spots. Alan Mathews kept faith with the same eleven that started the week previous against Cobh. George O'Callaghan therefore, returning from suspension, had to be content with a place on the bench.

Cork were to be in control of the game from start to finish, and registered their first attempt at goal after just two minutes of play. Colin Healy picked out Mooney with a free kick from inside the Cork half. Mooney had pulled away on the right,and received the ball circa five yards outside the box. Last seasons top goalscorer quickly showed he was running high on confidence when he fired in a volley from what was a pretty tight angle. He connected sweetly enough but the direction was all wrong.

Midway through the half Cork strung together the first of many slick attacking passages of play. Joe Gamble picked up possession in midfield and lofted an accurate ball over the head of UCD full back Alan Mahon, into the path of Mooney. Mooney, this time pulling away on the opposite left hand side, shifted the ball on to his favoured right foot and dinked a cross into space at the back post where Darren Murphy was racing towards. Murphy got their first but Ian Bermingham managed to get back and divert the ball out for a corner.

On a rare foray forward UCD earned a corner on their right. Connor Kenna met Derek Doyles outswinger at the near post but his contact was too slight to direct it on target. The ball eventually came to Alan McNally thirty yards from goal, but his shot was rising at too quick a rate, right from the second it left his boot.

City may be attempting to persuade Kerry-man Derek OBrien to become their first signing of the transfer window, but in Liam Kearney they already have one of the leagues most gifted left sided midfielders. The former Ireland U21 player had a busy game, and was always looking to get on the ball. On the half hour mark he spotted UCD keeper Matt Gregg off his line and from thirty five yards tried to catch him out. Gregg was alert however and got back to save what could have been an embarrassing moment. Kearney then dropped deep into centre midfield and spun around with the ball before picking out Mooney on the edge of the box. The former Longford favourite hit the target with a lot shot, but it never looked like beating Gregg.

Mooney was to be busy for the final five minutes of the half. He shot wide from twenty five yards and then had a penalty appeal turned down when his cross struck the arm of right back Mahon. In truth, Mahon was but a mere three or four yards away, so referee Mark Gough would have been in the wrong to point to the spot. Then, with no more than sixty seconds left in the half, Mooney pulled out a quality finish from a couple of yards inside the box.

Dan Murray brought a halt to a rare UCD attack twenty yards from Mick Devines goal. He carried the ball out of defence at speed and was momentarily slowed down by Brian King pulling on his jersey. Gough, normally one to pull up fouls as and when they happen, this time thought twice and waived play on when it became clear that it was going to take more than a jersey pull to stop the centre back. Gamble took over and ran at the retreating UCD back line before rolling the ball to his left where Mooney had drifted into space. Mooney opened his body up and curled a right footed shot into the far corner of the net - giving Gregg no chance.

Cork came out for the second forty five looking to put the game beyond their hosts as soon as possible. Danny Murphy had a go from outside the box with a shot that Gregg did well to tip over the crossbar. Mooney went looking for his second and attempted a first time volley at the back post - it didn't need saving though. Murray then headed wide at the back post from a corner.

Twelve minutes into the second half Mooney hit his sixth league goal in three league games. Darren Murphy, included at the expense of O'Callagan, whipped in a cross from the right that Mooney glanced into the bottom far corner.

From this point on Cork concentrated on keeping the ball and seeing the game out. Doyle and Shane Fitzgerald had shots at goal, but Devine wasn't too troubled. Cork came close to a third in the final minutes when substitute O'Callaghan exchanged passes with Kearney and made room for a shot - but UCD centre back Brian Shortall did well and blocked the Cork number tens effort.

UCD: Matt Gregg; Alan Mahon, Brian Shortall, Conor Kenna, Ian Bermingham; Brian King (Greg Bolger 68), Ronan Finn, Alan McNally, Derek Doyle; Timmy Purcell (Shane Fitzgerald 68), Pat McWalter (John Reilly 85).
Subs not used: Billy Brennan, Evan McMillan.

Cork City: Michael Devine; Neal Horgan, Dan Murray, Pat Sullivan, Danny Murphy; Darren Murphy (George O'Callaghan 78), Joe Gamble, Colin Healy, Liam Kearney (David Meyler 91); Dave Mooney (Denis Behan 88), John O'Flynn.
Subs not used: Mark McNulty, Cillian Lordan.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 550