UCD 0 Cork City 1

Ten-man Cork City continued their unbeaten start to the league with a deserved 1-0 win over UCD at Belfield . The early-season pace-setters played for just over an hour a man short after Darren Dennehy was sent off, but Mark O’Sullivan’s early goal sealed the three points.

City had much the better start in the bright afternoon sunshine at Belfield and took the lead on seven minutes.

UCD goalkeeper Conor O’Donnell parried John Kavanagh’s shot from the right, but the ball spilled to Billy Dennehy, who fired the ball in off the right-hand post, with Mark O’Sullivan getting the final touch.

Cork soon took control but were dramatically reduced to 10 men on 29 minutes. UCD’s Cillian Morrison dispossessed Darren Murphy on the edge of the centre circle and started to run through the Cork defence but was stopped by a crunching tackle from Dennehy.

Referee Pádraig Sutton brandished the red card and also booked Dennehy’s brother Billy for dissent.

UCD saw more of the ball after that but struggled to mount any decent attacks and failed to capitalise on the extra man. They improved somewhat in the second period, with Samir Belhout in particular looking dangerous.

Cork City keeper Mark McNulty had enjoyed a quite afternoon, but made two vital saves on 87 minutes.