Jason Kabia celebrated a new one-year contract with two goals for Cork City as they made the ideal start to their championship season with a 3-0 win over Dundalk at Turner's Cross yesterday. Kabia (27), who previously played in Finland and Malta, and had spells with Lincoln City and Doncaster Rovers in England, fired Cork into a fifth minute lead and added his second 10 minutes from time.

Controversy, however, surrounded that second goal, when he scored from what seemed to be an offside position, but referee Hubert Byrne over-ruled the linesman's flag on the stand side of the ground and the goal stood. John Caulfield, who has handed over the captain's armband to Declan Daly for this season, added the third goal in the final minute and again Kabia was involved in the build-up when he headed on Phil Harrington's long goal kick.

Five players were booked in a tough encounter - Cork's Ollie Cahill and Dundalk's Nathan Wigg, Peter Whitnell, Tom McNulty and Dave Crawley. Cork could have won by a greater margin, had John Caulfield not hit the upright in the opening minute. Mark Herrick was also denied what would have been a wonder goal when his free kick from halfway midway through the second half carried over off the crossbar with Dundalk goalkeeper Steve Williams off his line.