It's funny the rejuvenating effect watching their team scoring a couple of goals and taking the points has on those in the football management game. In the aftermath of last week's surrender at Shamrock Rovers, Derek Mountfield had been damning in his criticism of a team he accused of lacking pride in the City shirts they were wearing.

Yesterday, as the 1,500 or so supporters who braved an appalling day at Turner's Cross to see the home side record only their second win in eight league outings, the smile was back with a vengeance. Drenched but clearly delighted as he discussed a game which Cork had won thanks to secondhalf goals from Pat Morley and James Mulligan, even he must have been struggling to believe that after the run of form his side have had over the past couple of months, this win is enough to send City to Tolka Park next Friday night just two points off the top of the league.

The game was as good as one could reasonably have expected in the conditions with both teams anxious to defy the wind and rain by producing decent football but only one boasting the necessary experience to do any more. Cork started brightly with Mulligan looking especially lively around the United box but with goalscoring their major problem this season and in the face of a determined display by the visitors they soon realised that they would again have to be patient.

Finally their chance came after 58 minutes when Morley tapped home his third goal in as many games from a couple of yards after Ollie Cahill, Mark Herrick and Greg O'Halloran had done the hard stuff. But the opening goal's significance was probably overshadowed a couple of minutes later when Mulligan, making his seventh start for the southerners, scored for the first time since arriving from Finn Harps.

For the rest of the game City dominated and having broken his duck Mulligan should certainly have added another before the end. In the circumstances, though, Mountfield wasn't complaining with strong performances from Fergus O'Donoghue, Morley and his central midfielders as well as a solid debut from Michael Devine in goals all having a positive effect on the Englishman's humour.

To be fair, United's cause wasn't helped by the fact that O'Riordan had to replace two of his starters with teenagers early on due to injury. The keenly awaited debut of Llewelyn Riley was a subdued affair too although in the absence of any real opportunity to prove himself in front of goal a couple entanglements with Declan did at least give the impression that he has the spirit for the Irish game.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Daly, Coughlan, O'Donoghue; O'Halloran (Moore, 84 mins), Herrick, Gaughan, Cahill; Mulligan, Morley (Caulfied, 87 mins).

GALWAY: Forde; Keady, O'Connor, Silke, Morgan (Murphy, 11 mins); Ryan (Malee, 31 mins), Crossley, Sheridan, Fortune; Riley (Keogh, 62 mins), Lavine.

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).