They started full of promise and then fell behind, but Cork City recovered and extended their unbeaten run to six games at Buckley Park last night.

Victory sees Cork remain in fifth place in the Premier Division, and prolongs their hopes of European football next season.

Against the run of play, Kilkenny took the lead in the 15th minute. A free-kick by Stephen Murphy fell to Mick O'Byrne, who scored with a fine shot from the edge of the box.

However, Cork drew level in the 22nd minute. A free-kick on the right by Ollie Cahill ended with the ball bobbling around the Kilkenny goal and Kelvin Flanagan prodded home. Cork took the lead on the hour when a corner by Cahill was headed home by the unchallenged Derek Coughlan from the edge of the six yard box. On 64 minutes they scored their third through a Flanagan penalty after Anthony Buckley had been brought down in the box.

Cork rounded off a good victory when Mark Herrick headed the fourth goal in the 91st minute.

Kilkenny City: Hobbert, O'Neill, Brunton, Purdy, Mulcahy, Wilkinson, McGrath, Murphy, Comerford, O'Byrne, Jackson. Subs: Wilkinson, 59th mins; Fennelly for Jackson; 87th mins.

Cork City: Devine, Carew, Horgan, Daly, Coughlan, Buckley, Cahill, Flanagan, Mulligan, Hartigan, Caulfield. Subs: O'Brien for Caulfield, 46th mins; Morley for Hartigan, 58th mins; Herrick for Flanagan, 79th mins.

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).