Cork City 2 - 0 UCD

Goals from Lawrie Dudfield and Denis Behan made sure Cork City finally won a league game in a very long September for the club while they also did neighbouring strugglers Cobh Ramblers a massive favour by defeating fellow relegation candidates UCD.

Dudfield scored in the 12th minute after Darragh Ryan crossed in to the box and the clubs most recent signing hit the ball into the back of the net from close distance. Two minutes later Dudfield ran down the right and UCD’s Alan Mahon took him down with referee Neil Doyle pointing to the spot. Denis Behan blasted the ball straight down the middle for his second penalty this week.

The game started well and Cork had the first chance, winning a corner five minutes into the game but instantaneously Brian King went very close for the Students immediately after, his shot from distance going just over the crossbar.

Kearney had a great chance to put City 1-0 ahead in the 12th minute but his shot was saved excellently. The resulting corner was taken by Darragh Ryan and the ball was then bundled in by Lawrie Dudfield from two yards out. The former Hull City striker scored his second goal for the club after opening his account last weekend against neighbouring strugglers Cobh Ramblers.

Dudfield was then sent down the left in the 16th minute but he was chopped down by Alan Mahon in the area. Denis Behan fired the resulting penalty straight down the middle to double the home sides' lead after a quarter of an hour.

Timmy Purcell hit a speculative shot from 20 yards out but it went well wide of the returning Michael Devine's post. City nearly had the ball in the net again on 20 minutes when Billy Woods, making his first start in the league this season, hit in a beautiful diagonal ball from the left to Murphy whose diving header was turned around the post for a corner.

Shane Duggan hit a nice free kick over the wall but it went straight into the hands of Devine with 22 minutes on the clock. Cork went close again on 32 when Neal Horgan played the ball to Darren Murphy whose shot blazed over the bar into the stand. Darragh Ryan then had a free header 6 yards out but he headed the ball straight into the hands of Matt Gregg but the linesman already had his flag raised for offside.

Shane Duggan picked up UCD’s second booking with 42 minutes played for a blatant trip on Alan O’Connor on the halfway line after the Cork midfielder broke from a poor UCD free kick and that was the last thing of note in a relatively exciting first half.

After the restart UCD withheld substantial pressure from the home side and Behan’s diving header from a Darragh Ryan cross went just past the wrong side of the post. Ryan was then booked for a handball inside the box as the cross was played in just behind him.

Brian King had a glorious chance for UCD but his shot from 18 yards was more like a back-pass than an effort on goal 10 minutes into the second half. Shane Duggan then had a shot in the 57th minute but it was saved by Devine in the Cork goal.

Behan had a glorious chance when he was played in by Liam Kearney but his effort was driven wide of the mark with an hour gone. Danny Murphy played in substitute Gareth Cambridge on 75 but his chip was saved by the approaching Matt Gregg. Patrick Mc Walter had a decent opportunity for the students with nine minutes remaining but his low drive was saved well by Devine. Behan had another chance for Cork in the 84th minute but his shot was put out for a corner by the busier of the two keepers throughout the night, Matt Gregg.

It ended there and in front of prospective owner Tom Coughlan, Cork will now be much more positive going into Tuesday night's FAI Ford Cup quarter final against Derry City at the Brandywell. UCD remain in dire straits, though, and their chances of staying up look much slimmer after tonight's results which included a win for Finn Harps.

Cork City: Michael Devine; Neal Horgan, Dan Murray, Danny Murphy, Billy Woods; Alan O’Connor, Darren Murphy, Liam Kearney (Timmy Kiely 65), Darragh Ryan; Lawrie Dudfield (Gareth Cambridge 71), Denis Behan.
Subs not used: Mark McNulty, Cillian Lordan, Sean Kelly.

UCD: Matt Gregg; Alan Mahon, Conor Kenna, Alan Mc Nally, Ian Bermingham; Shane Fitzgerald, Brian King (Brian Shortall 86), Shane Duggan (Greg Bolger 80), Darren Meenan; Patrick McWalter, Timmy Purcell (David McMillan 89).
Subs not used: Billy Brennan, Evan Mc Millan.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 2,603

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Liam Kearney (Cork City) - He performed well in an unorthodox position.