Cork City 6 Monaghan Utd 0:DAVIN O'NEILL scored a hat-trick as Cork City gained their first Premier Division win of the season against Monaghan United at Turner's Cross last night.

Both sides had chances in the evenly-contested opening period. But City slowly began to take control and they went ahead just before the half-hour when Daryl Horgan cut in from the left and his 25-yard shot took a deflection and looped over Monaghan goalkeeper, Chris Bennion.

Four minutes later, the lead was doubled as Bennion spilled a Gearóid Morrissey free kick and O’Neill pounced to apply the finish. It was 3-0 after 49 minutes, Vinny Sullivan touching in another Morrissey free and Keith Quinn, who had been booked for the initial foul on Horgan, received a second yellow card for dissent.

O’Neill got his second and his side’s fourth on 65 after Horgan broke well following Monaghan pressure in which Darragh Reynor hit the crossbar. Sub Tadhg Purcell made it 5-0 with 13 minutes left.

In the 87th minute, O’Neill completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, the win equalling City’s previous biggest in the Premier Division.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Kavanagh (Turner 70), D Murray, Spillane, D Murphy; G Morrissey, Dunleavy, Duggan, D Horgan (O’Connor 75); O’Neill, Sullivan (Purcell 70).

MONAGHAN UNITED: Bennion; Stephen Maher, Shaun Maher, McMahon (R Collins 74), Reynor (Marks 74); McGuinness, McDonagh, Quinn, Keegan (Humphreys 56); O’Connor, Murphy.

Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).