UCD 1 Cork C 0:NEWLY PROMOTED Cork City made a disappointing return to the top flight when a first-half goal by winger Mark Langtry gave a young UCD side a deserved victory at a windswept Belfield Bowl.
Cork missed an early chance of taking the lead when unmarked midfielder Colin Healy shot wide of the target from 12 yards after Ian Turner and striker Tadhg Purcell had combined nicely to set him up.
College, although dominating midfield for long periods, failed to produce openings, with Chris Lyons badly off target after Chris Mulhall and Danny Ledwith had created the opening.
But the students were in front on 36 minutes when Mulhall fed Lyons on the right and he squared the ball perfectly for Langtry to fire home from close range past Cork goalkeeper Mark McNulty.
A mistake by McNulty almost let in College for a second goal just prior to the interval.
Dropping a high cross at the edge of his box, the goalkeeper was relieved to see Robert Benson’s effort deflect off a Cork defender and away to safety.
Even with the wind in their favour in the second half, little was seen of Cork in an offensive role, with College happy to keep possession and frustrate the Premier Division newcomers.
Despite the introduction of substitutes Vinny Sullivan, Jamie Murphy and Cathal Lordan during the second half, Cork failed in their bid to find an equaliser.
Substitute Murphy had a late chance for Cork but headed just over from close range after a fine cross from the right by John Dunleavy.
College, in the end, were full value for their three points.
UCD: Barron; Ledwith, D O’Connor, Leahy, Nangle; Mulhall, P O’Connor, Kavanagh , Langtry (McCabe, 89 mins); Benson (Clarke, 72 mins), Lyons.
CORK CITY: McNulty; Dunleavy, Kavanagh, Murray, D Murphy; Turner, Morrissey, Healy (Sullivan, 59 mins), Duggan; Purcell (J Murphy, 72 mins), S O’Connor (Lordan, 78 mins).
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).
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