NATIONAL LEAGUE: George O'Callaghan made it a hat-trick of wins in the capital for Cork City with a smash-and-grab first-half winner as Pat Dolan's side moved to third in the table. The result was harsh on bottom-of-the-table Dublin City who played much of the football as Cork's only efforts on goals came from set-pieces.

Both sides endeavoured to knock the ball around in a tight first half. Save for a first-minute scare when no Cork team-mate was available to apply the final touch to Neale Fenn's low cross, it was Dublin who carved out the most constructive openings of the half. Defender Ben Whelehan was on the end of the first real chance but he miss-hit his shot from Barry Burke's cross straight at Michael Devine.

Cork replied within a minute when Robbie Horgan's right upright came to Dublin's rescue as Danny Murphy's free-kick got through the defensive wall. Cork were soon exposed again, however, but again, Dublin's finish scarcely troubled Devine as Paul Crowley headed into the goalkeeper's arms after Gary O'Neill and Cathal O'Connor worked the opening down the right.

Those missed chances came back to haunt Dublin as they fell behind four minutes before the break. A variation on their earlier free-kick from a similar position resulted in Fenn's shot rebounding off the crossbar. Dublin reacted sluggishly to the loose ball which fell for O'Callaghan who volleyed home.

The second half was a huge disappointment with Cork, for the most part, happy to defend their lead. O'Connor might have equalised on 62 minutes, but his drive lacked power.

DUBLIN CITY: Horgan; Burke, Whelehan, Griffin, Byrne (Brennan, 83 mins); C. O'Connor (Collins, 87 mins), Crowley, Colwell, Gleeson (Hughes, 52 mins), Foy; O'Neill.

CORK CITY: Devine; Lordan, Bennett, D. Murray, Murphy; Woods, O'Brien, O'Callaghan, Nwankwo (Kearney, 62 mins); Doyle, Fenn (Nolan, 56 mins).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).