Late first half strikes from Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh and Ruairi Keating finally sparked a sluggish Cork City to life at the UCD Bowl in their quest for SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division survival.
The 2-0 victory over the Students, already consigned to the First Division next year, ended a run of four straight defeats to edge Cork to within six points of third-bottom Sligo Rovers with three games to play in their battle to avoid the relegation play-off place.
The lethargic start from Cork, who lost on their last visit to the Bowl in April, saw them survive a couple of early let-offs.
Goalkeeper Kian Moore’s fifth minute clearance was flicked on by Dara Keane for the run of Ciaran Behan on the left. Keane then dummied the cross to set up skipper Jack Keaney who scuffed his shot wide, furious with himself for not hitting the target.
Three minutes later Adam Verdon wasn’t closed down in possession, inviting the midfielder to shoot from distance with keeper Ollie Byrne having to get down smartly to his left to push the drive away.
It was 14 minutes before Cork threatened, though O’Brien-Whitmarsh’s kick scarcely troubled Moore.
UCD remained the better side, Eanna Clancy heading over from Keaney’s cross before the half hour.
Cork finally got a shot on target on 34 minutes and that came from a defensive error.
College left-back Jesse Dempsey, guilty initially of giving the ball away in midfield, saw his attempted clearance hit Malik Dijksteel.
The ball fell into the path of O’Brien-Whitmarsh who brought a fine parry save from Moore who had charged off his line.
Likewise, Byrne was soon worked at the other end, Keane sliding Mikey Raggett in on the left to force a good stop from the City keeper.
Cork finally played their way into the game as the half came to a close, blitzing UCD with a brace before the interval.
The opener came on 43 minutes with impressive Dutchman Dijksteel the architect when threading a ball through for Gordon Walker.
The right-back’s shot was parried by Moore to drop kindly for O’Brien-Whitmarsh to volley home.
Having scarcely been in the game for the majority of the first half, Cork then doubled their lead in stoppage time.
Byrne’s goal kick was allowed to bounce. Ben Worman headed it through for the run of Keating who calmly slotted home his 13th league goal of the season.
Byrne then produced the save of the game two minutes after the break to maintain Cork’s two-goal cushion, pushing Keaney’s powerful drive over the bar.
Perhaps Cork’s best move of the day might then have stretched their lead on 57 minutes, Walker failing to provide the finish as he got under his shot to sky it over the top.
UCD: Kian Moore; Daniel Babb (Evan Osam 58), Eanna Clancy, Adam Wells, Jesse Dempsey (Donal Higgins 63); Adam Verdon, Jack Keaney; Jake Doyle (Matt Alonge 63), Dara Keane, Ciaran Behan (Luke O’Regan 58); Mikey Raggett (Danu Kinsella-Bishop 68).
Cork City: Ollie Byrne; Gordon Walker, Jonas Hakkinen, Josh Honohan, Kevin Custovic (Josh Fitzpatrick 84); Aaro Bolger, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh (Tunde Owolabi 84), Andrii Kravchuk (Cian Bargary 63); Ben Worman (Barry Coffey 63), Ruairi Keating, Malik Dijksteel (Jaze Kabia 73).
Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).
