League of Ireland Premier Division/Cork City 4 UCD 1:Leon McSweeney scored twice as Cork City punished a lax UCD performance by comfortably achieving their first win in three games at Turner's Cross last night.
McSweeney and John O'Flynn punched big holes in the UCD defence and Cork played some captivating football.
The UCD defence was breached for the first time in the 12th minute as Cork opened their account with a superb goal. Colin Healy opened a big gap through the middle with a clever reversed pass that found John O'Flynn closing on goal from the left and his instant strike from 12 yards beat visiting goalkeeper Darren Quigley.
Cork surrendered their lead almost immediately when they were caught far upfield as they sought a second goal. Conan Byrne released Tim Purcell on the right and his cross was driven under the body of goalkeeper Mark McNulty by Ian McFaul.
However Cork went in front again in the 36th minute. Billy Woods's free from the left was headed across goal by O'Flynn and Dan Murray was there to force the ball over the goal-line.
Cork almost extended their lead in the 43rd minute when O'Flynn's shot came back off an upright. With UCD's defence slow to react, O'Flynn snapped up the rebound but he fired his shot wide.
Cork's control was unchallenged in the second half and they extended their lead after 71 minutes. Farrelly took a return pass from Healy and fed Horgan and his incisive through ball was struck on the turn past Quigley by McSweeney.
The goal fired the speedy McSweeney to renewed effort and he struck again in the 76th minute. O'Flynn was the creator, heading the ball on from half-way and McSweeney raced clear to comfortably beat the advancing Quigley.
CORK CITY:McNulty (Philpott 90); Horgan, O'Callaghan, Murray, Woods; Farrelly, Gamble (Softic 88), Healy, Kearney; McSweeeney (Behan 88), O'Glynn.
UCD:Quigley; Mahon, Kenna, McNally (McMillan 66), Bermingham; Byrne, Crowley (Hynes 77), McFaul, McWalter (Finn 77); Sammon, Purcell.
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin)