A late goalburst from Cork City inflicted a third successive, and damaging, defeat on Galway United at Terryland Park as the home side's season descended into further trouble.

The mediocre game finally burst into life in front of goal in the last 20 minutes or so as goals from James Mulligan and John Cotter saw Cork City take the points.

The first arrived on 74 minutes. Substitute Kelvin Flangan floated over a corner from the left. David Forde, the Galway goalkeeper, initially parried Mulligan's volley but the ball came straight back to the Cork striker who blasted the home from close range.

That was tough on Galway, but they only had themselves to blame as eight minutes earlier Eric Lavine missed an absolute sitter.

Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine's clearance from a back pass went straight to the Galway striker but he somehow shot wide of an open goal.

Cork sealed their win two minutes from time when Devine's long clearance was flicked on by Pat Morley for Cotter, on the pitch eight minutes, to shoot past Forde.

Robbie Keane is the only Irish player to make the top 100 of the most highly regarded youngsters in the world. The poll was conducted by World Soccer magazine and five English players made the list, including West Ham's Joe Cole who will be watched by new England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in action against Sunderland today.

GALWAY UNITED: Forde; Crossley, Clery, Silke, Sheridan; Ryan, Murphy, O'Connor, O'Brien; Lavine, Grant. Subs: Keogh for Grant (16 mins); B Moran for O'Brien (78 mins); Fortune for Murphy (82 mins).

CORK CITY: Devine: O'Brien, Daly, Napier, Horgan; Caulfield, Gaughan, Herrick, Cahill; Morley, Mulligan. Subs: Tynan for Caulfield (56 mins); Flanagan for Gaughan (69 mins); Cotter for Mulligan (79 mins.).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).