Cobh Ramblers move out of the relegation positions after they defeated bottom of the table UCD in this six-pointer at St Colman's Park.
Striker Davin O'Neill was the home fans hero with two brilliant goals, one in each half and this after the visitors had struck a shot off the post through Darren Meehan after just five minutes.
Then O'Neill headed Cobh in front after 21 minutes connecting with a fine cross from full-back Kenny Coleman, the in-form striker then made it four goals in two games, robbing defender Kenna and lifting the ball over goalkeeper Matt Gregg after 63 minutes.
Following Friday night's results, when Finn Harps lost at home to Sligo and Galway moved off the bottom of the table and above UCD after their big win over Bray, this game was a massive relegation battle.
The Students needed a win to move above Galway again, and a win for Cobh would see them jump out of the relegation positions and above Harps.
The mini four-team league, of which three will be relegated in a mouth-watering battle, will surely go until the last night of the season.
UCD started well and almost took a fifth minute lead when a shot from Darren Meenan from 20 yards struck the post, rebounded and hit diving goalkeeper James McCarthy, who then pounced on the ball on the goal line.
Ramblers who played a 4-1-4-1 formation with Colin O'Brien as the deep midfielder and O'Neill as the main attacker, scored a well-executed goal after 21 minutes.
A cross from Coleman was brilliantly headed past the diving Matt Gregg by O'Neill for his third goal in two games.
The home side playing football as if they had no relegation worries, went close with powerful shots from Alan Carey and Ross Gaynor, before UCD, who were very much in the game, were denied an equaliser.
McCarthy making a great save from Pat McWalter's close-range shot.
Pete Mahon's side tried hard for an equaliser straight after half-time, with Conor Kenna lifting a shot inches over the Cobh crossbar from outside the penalty area.
But then Ramblers scored the crucial second goal when O'Neill robbed defender Kenna, before lobbing the ball over the head of goalkeeper Gregg.
The result makes it three wins in a row, one defeat in eight league games and four clean sheets on the trot. Good form at just the right time for Stephen Henderson's side.
COBH: McCarthy; Coleman, Guthrie, Murray, J Meade; Carey, O'Brien, J Kearney, O'Halloran, O'Neill; Gaynor.
Subs: Kavanagh for Gaynor 82 mins, C Meade, R Lally, S Barrett, S Mulcahy.
UCD; Gregg; Shortall, Bermingham, Kenna, McNally, McFaul, Finn, Purcell, Meenan, King, McWalter.
Subs: Duggan and Fitzgerald for Meenan and McFaul both 70 mins, McMillan, Bolger for Shortall 82, Brennan.
Referee: Damien Hancock(Dublin).
