Galway United ... 1 Cork City ... 3:THE SUSPICION that Alan Mathews' latest club, Cork City, can become significant contenders was confirmed at Terryland Park last night after they strolled to a routine victory.

Cork start every season with lofty ambitions, and though a five match unbeaten sequence had only yielded seven points a sense of expectation followed Mathews' side into Terryland Park.

Galway, without a manager since the dismissal of Tony Cousins, have been battling honestly, but Cork scored the opening goal in the 18th minute. Joe Gamble clipped the ball into the Galway area for John O'Flynn to convert.

George O'Callaghan was fouled in the 43rd minute by Ciaran Foley and he then curled the free kick past Rogers for a two-goal lead at the break.

In the final minutes Galway substitute Jason Molloy (85) and Dave Mooney (87) traded goals as Cork claimed the points.

GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Nootimer, Fitzgerald, Charles; McCulloch; Deegan, Foley, Lester, Keane (Molloy 71 mins); Leech, Glynn (O'Flynn, 54 mins).

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Lordan, Murray, Murphy; Gamble, Healy, O'Callaghan; O'Flynn (O'Connor, 90 mins), Mooney, Kearney (Ryan 13 mins, Behan, 80 mins).

Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).