UCD - 0 Cork City - 3 John O'Flynn scored a sublime hat-trick to banish Cork City's travel sickness of last season from the start of this campaign and in so doing perhaps gave watching Irish manager Brian Kerr food for thought.
Cork won just once away from home last season, and it was September 1998 since they last took three points from Belfield. Both statistics were abruptly banished to history by the virtuoso O'Flynn, who scored with a header, a left-foot volley and a right-foot drive - the perfect hat-trick.
UCD's bright start - in which they might have scored straight from the kick-off but for the alertness of Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine who cleared from the feet of Alan Gallen - quickly dissipated as Cork took control.
Passing the ball well and attacking at will on the immaculate Belfield surface, City got in behind the UCD defence time after time. But for Patrick Jennings in the home goal Pat Dolan's side would have been further than 1-0 up at the interval.
Jennings brought off a particularly good, one-handed save from a George O'Callaghan free kick on 29 minutes, before his goal was finally breached for City's lead three minutes later.
In contrast to much of Cork's intricate approach play up to that, the goal was simplicity itself as O'Flynn was left unmarked at the near post to head home a Billy Woods corner.
The 20-year-old O'Flynn ought to have doubled his and Cork's tally within a further two minutes but failed to realise the time and space he had from Woods pinpoint cross and hurried his header well wide.
O'Flynn ended the match as a contest within seven minutes early in the second half with a couple of superb strikes to complete a wonderful hat-trick.
It was 2-0 on 52 minutes when O'Flynn controlled an O'Callaghan cross from the right, knocking the ball skilfully into his path before shooting left-footed past Jennings.
Griffin might have got UCD back into the match within a minute but his header from Martin's cross hit the crossbar.
Six minutes later it was over for College. Doyle this time provided the delivery for O'Flynn to turn past UCD captain Tony McDonnell and shoot home.
UCD: Jennings; Sullivan, McDonnell, McAuley (Donnelly, h/t), Ryan; J. Martin, McNally, Whelan, Cawley Davey, h/t); Griffin, Gallen (Finn, 70 min).
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Murray, Bennett, Cronin (Carey, 81 min); O'Grady, O'Halloran, Woods (CT O'Brien, 85 min); O'Flynn (CP O'Brien, 85 min), Doyle.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
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