Cork City went top of the table, albeit with two games more played than Dundalk, in a one-sided game against struggling Bray.
A Karl Sheppard brace and one from Gary Buckley had City in cruise control at the break, though Gary McCabe did get one back for the hosts.
This was another bleak night for Bray but things are on the up off the pitch.
New chairman Niall O’Driscoll issued a leaflet to all fans who attended – and the crowd of 843 is actually good by Wanderers’ standards – asking for volunteers to run "their club".
There was certainly a better vibe about the old place, and Derek Pender thought he had the hosts in front only to be ruled offside.
Cork’s defence looked vulnerable to a through-ball and another put Jake Ellis in on eight minutes but, with just Peter Cherrie to beat, he pulled his effort wide.
Cork went ahead after 12 minutes. After good work by Buckley, Barry McNamee and Jimmy Keohane in particular, Sheppard fashioned a series of turns at the edge of the box before curling into the corner of the net.
Sheppard fed Buckley to head onto the bar after 20 minutes, but the same combination combined to more telling effect on the half-hour mark, Buckley heading home from the Dubliner’s corner-kick.
Two minutes later, a shocking pass from Evan Moran had Sheppard in again but he probably took the wrong option, squaring for McNamee, who was not anticipating a pass; Sean Heaney got in to clear.
Delaney’s powerful header put Sheppard in to score again on 36 minutes. The former Crystal Palace defender missed an easier opportunity before the break, while Sheppard should have wrapped up his hat-trick just before the break, only to wildly shoot over.
Cork introduced Kieran Sadlier at half-time and somehow did not further their lead, Sean McLoughlin heading wide when it was easier to score.
Buckley ought to have added a fourth before his superb dummy allowed Graham Cummins in, but Moran made a superb save.
Bray plugged away and got their reward on 64 minutes, Gary McCabe striking home a stunning free-kick that gave Cherrie no chance.
Cork had countless chances to score again, debutant Shane Daly-Butz striking the crossbar in injury time.
John Caulfield also introduced John Dunleavy for his first competitive game this season as the rain began to fall in County Wicklow.
Bray Wanderers: Evan Moran, Sean Harding, Sean Heaney, Conor Kenna, Kevin Lynch, Paul O’Conor, Rhys Gorman (Dylan Hayes 54) Darragh Noone (Darragh Gibbons 46), Gary McCabe, Jake Ellis, Ger Pender (Cian Walsh 72).
Cork City: Peter Cherrie, Steven Beattie, Damien Delaney, Sean McLoughlin, Shane Griffin (Dunleavy 86), Conor McCormack (Kieran Sadlier 46), Jimmy Keohane; Karl Sheppard, Garry Buckley (Shane Daly-Butz 80), Barry McNamee; Graham Cummins.
Referee: Paul McLoughlin.
