A Davin O'Neill hat-trick helped Cork City to three valuable Airtricity League Premier Division points in a 4-2 win against UCD at Turner’s Cross.
Daryl Horgan put Cork ahead after 13 minutes but Graham Rusk levelled two minutes later. O'Neill put City back in front but Paul O’Conor scored with 11 minutes to play.
Two late O’Neill strikes, one from the penalty spot, sealed the win for Tommy Dunne’s team.
After a quiet opening, Cork City began to gain control with left-wing O'Neill particularly prominent.
It was Tadgh Purcell who proved instrumental in the opening goal after 13 minutes. He took a pass on the left wing and picked out Horgan who fired into the top corner.
While the crowd were still celebrating, UCD worked the ball into the penalty area to Chris Lyons who was knocked over by City centre-back John Dunleavy. Graham Rusk confidently sent Mark McNulty the wrong way from the resulting spot kick.
After that the game settled down into something of a stalemate.
After 36 minutes, O'Neill exchanged passes with Purcell on the edge of the area, slipped past the centre back and managed to squeeze it by 'keeper Mark McGinley.
UCD came out for the second half with Ciaran Nagle on for Gary Burke and were full of purpose, causing City much more problems.
Martin Russell’s side equalised after 79 minutes when Paul Corry's exquisite free kick was saved brilliantly by McNulty only to be turned home acrobatically by O'Conor.
Lightning was to strike twice, however, and City went up the pitch from the kick off and won a penalty for a handball in the box. O'Neill slotted home for his second of the evening.
There was still time for more drama, and in time added on, the former Cobh man finished off his hat-trick when McGinley dropped the ball at his feet.
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Danny Murphy, Gearóid Morrissey, Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Davin O'Neill, Vinny Sullivan (Stephen Kenny 92), Tadgh Purcell, John Dunleavy, Kalen Spillane, Daryl Horgan (Ian Turner 69).
UCD: Mark McGinley, Hugh Douglas, Daniel Ledwith, David O'Connor, Michael Leahy, Paul Corry, Paul O'Connor, Robert Benson (Samir Belhout 83), Graham Rusk, Chris Lyons, Gary Burke (Ciaran Nangle 45).
