National League, Premier Division/UCD - 0 Cork City - 0: Damien Richardson's Cork City side had cut a dash in their nine games played prior to this, travelling the length and breath of the county unbeaten in both league and Setanta Cup games.
Top of the league travelling to Dublin yesterday, they relinquished that spot to Drogheda after a frustrating encounter with UCD, who after an uncertain start, grew in confidence to spoil the champions gameplan and ensure a share of the prize.
The benefit of those games held true for Cork in the opening exchanges as they set about dissecting their hosts. Crisp, accurate passing meant UCD were working overtime from an early stage but it was the precision of Cork's cross-field balls that particularly flummoxed the hosts.
Roy O'Donovan was always keen to cut in from the wing and, more often that not, proved the catalysts behind Cork's more promising attacks. He found striker Neale Fenn a willing accomplice and the duo frequently probed and penetrated the College rearguard.
But despite that possession, and the creativity it brought, a final shot was lacking. UCD, although under strong pressure, managed to soak up most of what was thrown their way and, on occasion, looked lively on the counter with Pat McWalter a menace when afforded time and space.
Indeed, it was only after a Cork attack, instigated by O'Donovan but thwarted when Conan Byrne prevented a Billy Woods shot, that UCD threatened. Darragh Ryan teased in a cross but striker Conor Sammon, having used his height to good effect, blazed a header wide of Michael Devine's post.
Late in the half, Danny Murphy's corner from the right evaded strikers and defenders alike as the ball fizzed across Darren Quigley's line untouched. The lack of contact proved costly for Richardon's men as they found UCD increasingly difficult to break down during a dour second half.
Fenn, although not quite the force he was in the opening period, had the travelling support on their feet on the hour when he shot narrowly wide from distance and he then supplied Denis Behan whose volley from the edge of the area forced Quigley into a smart save.
Cork did have the ball in the UCD net five minutes from time but Woods's rising shot, from a narrow angle, was ruled offside.
UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McNally, Kenna, Ryan; C Byrne, Hurley, Cawley, McWalter; P Byrne, Sammon. Subs: Dicker for Hurley (46), Doyle for P Byrne (72), Matthews for Mahon (87).
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Lordan, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, Gamble, O'Brien, Woods; Fenn, Behan. Subs: O'Flynn for Behan (75).
Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin)
