Cork City 1 UCD 0:A CONTROVERSIAL Dave Mooney penalty with 22 minutes to go ended a frustrating run of draws for Cork City at Turner's Cross last night as they overcame an unlucky UCD. John O'Flynn went down far too easy and referee Damien Hancock gave the striker the benefit of the doubt, allowing Mooney to net the resultant spot kick past an enraged Matt Gregg.

Cork had most of the possession but it would have come to naught had it not been for that moment of Hancock generosity in the second half.

When UCD did have the ball, they were just as comfortable on it. They withdrew centre forward Ronan Finn into the centre circle to counter the roving home triangle formation and had the better chances as a result. Finn should have scored after seven minutes while a determined 60-yard run by right winger Shane Fitzgerald from his own half ended with Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine palming away the player's attempt at a lob.

Cork, for their part, never really made Matt Gregg work until after the break. George O'Callaghan had decent chances inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The first was a speculative 30 yarder while the second was a well-placed half volley from O'Flynn's cushioned ball to force a save from Gregg. Then the penalty arrived to the relief of the home support.

CORK CITY: M Devine; N Horgan, D Murray, C Lordan, D Murphy; G O'Callaghan (P Sullivan, 85 mins), C Healy, J Gamble; L Kearney, D Mooney, J O'Flynn (D Behan, 73 mins).

UCD: M Gregg; A Mahon, C Kenna, B Shorthall, K Gallagher (T Purcell, 77 mins); S Fitzgerald, A McNally, B King, P McWalter; P Byrne, R Finn.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).