Centre forward Pat Morley once again emerged as the match winner as Cork picked up three priceless points in the Premier Division with a win over UCD at Turner's Cross yesterday.

Morley scored after 75 minutes with a glancing header from a corner by Mark Herrick to end a period when Cork were on top.

It was his sixth goal in Cork's last seven matches and the win he set up saw Cork climb to third in the table - nicely placed to challenge leaders Shamrock Rovers in Dublin on Sunday. Yet UCD had chances to cause an upset particularly in the opening half when Cork were slow to settle and UCD took advantage to make the running.

Owen Bennis went close with a header from a Brian Mooney cross after 20 minutes and UCD were unlucky again four minutes later as Cork goalkeeper Noel Mooney attempted to dribble the ball out of defence only to be tackled by Mick O'Byrne and see the ball run narrowly wide.

Cork took advantage of their early escapes and were clearly on top in midfield in the second- half where Herrick was in sparkling form and apart from Morley's goal they went close when Barry Ryan turned a shot from Ollie Cahill against an upright and yet again when Morley struck the crossbar.

Cork City: Mooney, Daly, Cronin, Hill, Cahill, Herrick, L O'Brien, Flanagan, C O'Brien, Caulfield, Morley. Sub: Dobbs for Caulfield (71 mins).

UCD: Ryan, McDonnell, Lynch, Mahon, McLaughlin, Mooney, Hanrahan, Kavanagh, McAuley, Bennis, O'Byrne. Subs: Delaney for McDonnell (62 mins), Martyn for McAuley (67 mins), Kilmurray for Hanrahan (82 mins).

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).