Cork City maintained their unbeaten run in domestic football when they strolled to their biggest victory of the season by defeating Dundalk 4-1 at Turner's Cross on Saturday.

The home side took control from the whistle and were two to the good after 30 minutes with goals from Ollie Cahill and Mark Herrick.

Any hope that Dundalk might make a match of it were dispelled when captain Mick Doohan was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence five minutes before the break.

Dundalk did their best to curtail the rampant Cork attack but could not prevent Cahill securing his second goal. Cahill was denied a hat-trick in the 72nd minute when goalkeeper Steve Williams tipped his shot over the crossbar.

Herrick had the ball in the net a minute later as the visitors tried desperately to keep the score down. They held out until nine minutes before time when Brian Barry-Murphy, in for the injured Patsy Freyne, added number four.

Dundalk, still seeking their first league win, scored a consolation goal two minutes later when Peter Whitnell took a pass from David Ward and drove the ball low into the Cork net.

Cork City: Mooney; Daly Coughlan, Hill, Cronin, Flanagan, Herrick, Barry-Murphy, Kabia, Dobbs. Subs: Hartigan for Kabia (59 mins), O'Halloran for Flanagan (66 mins), Caulfield for Dobbs (73 mins).

Dundalk: Williams; McNulty, Doohan, Brady, Crawley, Thew, Doolin, Melvin, Hoey, Ward, Whitnell. Subs: Reddish for McNulty (75 mins), Dunne for Thew (84 mins).

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).