by Shane Murray
Cork City moved clear of Shamrock Rovers in second place in the eircom League of Ireland Premier Division with victory over UCD at Belfield Park.
Colin O'Brien struck the opener for City when he volleyed Gareth Farrelly's right-wing cross to the net in the 31st minute, before the prolific Denis Behan headed home the second from a Farrelly sideline throw seven minutes later.
UCD emerged with more purpose after the break and deservedly pulled one back in the 81st minute when Pat McWalter headed home Brian King's cross, but despite some late chances for both sides, Cork held on and were good value for the three points.
They are now eight points behind long-term leaders Drogheda United with five games to play.
A disjointed opening saw neither side establish any kind of fluency or dominance, with very little clear cut chances on offer at either end.
In the eighth minute, Liam Kearney's burst down the left saw him tease the ball across the face of the UCD goal but Behan could only pull his shot wide with just goalkeeper Darren Quigley to beat.
O'Brien followed that in the 12th minute when he tried his luck with a long range effort but his shot skewed harmlessly wide.
In the 26th minute, Woods' ball in from the left caused problems with Quigley and his defensive colleagues, but Behan failed to direct his header on target and UCD cleared.
City were beginning to take control of the match at this stage and forced a number of corners without overly testing the hosts.
However, their increasing pressure finally reaped a reward in the 31st minute when a flowing move involving Kearney, Behan and Gareth Farrelly saw the latter swing the ball in from the right, and O'Brien applied the finishing touch to volley to the net.
Leon McSweeney was booked shortly afterwards for a late and unnecessary challenge on Quigley.
UCD tried to respond at the other end, with Brian King going close in the 37th minute with a speculative drive which flew narrowly over. However, Michael Devine seemed to have the matter under control between the City posts.
Damien Richardson's men deservedly doubled their lead a minute later when Gareth Farrelly's throw from the right was headed into the net by Behan from the edge of the six yard box.
UCD went close from a corner at the other end minutes later, and with half-time looming, referee Paul Tuite waved away speculative appeals for handball in the City area despite a clumsy looking trap and clearance from a Cork defender.
The ball found its way back to the edge of the Cork area from where Conan Byrne drilled an effort narrowly wide of the upright.
Cork held a 2-0 lead at the break, but Pete Mahon's side emerged after the break with renewed impetus and went close to reducing the deficit twice in the early stages of the half.
First, Conan Byrne's header from seven yards was well gathered by Devine, while Ronan Finn's well-struck effort sailed narrowly over in the 50th minute.
Kearney shot directly at Quigley at the other end, while Conor Sammon was put through on goal in the 58th minute but dragged his shot wide after breaking clear of the Cork rearguard.
Byrne was put through by King in the 64th minute but blazed over as Tuite pulled play back for offside as the game ebbed and flowed from end-to-end.
McSweeney then had a header ruled out for offside minutes later but clear cut chances were at a premium for both sides.
However, both sides maintained a positive approach, Cork in search of the third goal that would give them added breathing space and UCD in search of a goal that could set up a tense finish.
The alert Quigley was forced to leave his box before the 80th minute to head clear with the Cork attack turning the UCD defence.
And two minutes later, UCD reduced the deficit when McWalter found the net with a superb header after connecting with King's cross from the right to set up a frantic finale in which both sides pushed had decent chances to make a further impact on the scoreboard.
UCD grew in confidence after the goal and threatened down the left with McWalter and Byrne causing all kinds of problems for the Cork defence.
UCD looked to have valid claims for a penalty turned down in the dying minutes when they had a shot charged down just inside the box, but from the resulting break, Kearney raced the length of the pitch and chipped over the advancing Quigley and the bar with substitute Admir Softic better placed alongside him.
Kearney had a goal-bound effort blocked with clock ticking down as Cork began to find openings with UCD pushing for an equaliser, but nothing came of the resulting corner-kick.
A couple of more half chances presented themselves to no reward as Cork held on, and they now look ahead to the last five games of the season with renewed vigour having languished outside the top four for much of a relatively disappointing season.
UCD remain on 30 points and should, realistically, be safe from getting embroiled in a relegation battle as they are seven points clear of second from bottom Waterford United and 12 clear of Longford Town.
UCD: 1 Darren Quigley, 2 Alan Mahon, 3 Ian Bermingham (15 Evan McMillan 55 mins), 4 Conor Kenna, 5 Alan McNally, 6 Brian King, 7 Conan Byrne, 8 Ronan Finn, 9 Conor Sammon (12 Paul Byrne 70), 10, Shane McFaul, 11 Pat McWalter.
Substitutes not used: 13 Peter Hynes, 14 Greg Bolger, 16 Matt Gregg.
Cork City: 1 Michael Devine, 2 Neal Horgan, 4 Gareth Farrelly (24 Sean Kelly 90), 5 Brian O'Callaghan, 6 Dan Murray (capt), 7 Colin O'Brien, 11 Billy Woods, 15 Colin Healy, 20 Leon McSweeney (18 Admir Softic 85), 21 Denis Behan, 30 Liam Kearney.
Substitutes not used: 9 John O'Flynn, 16 Mark McNulty.
Referee: Paul Tuite.
