UCD denied Cork City the chance to go into joint leadership of the Premier Division when they came away with a 2-0 win from Turner's Cross yesterday.

Goals from Alan McNally after just eight minutes and Mick O'Donnell, four minutes from time, gave Paul Doolin's side victory. McNally opened the scoring against the run of play when he volleyed home from 12 yards after John Martin provided the cross.

Doolin, pulling the strings in midfield, was close to a second goal for the visitors when he forced Michael Devine to a fine save after just 16 minutes as the visitors matched Cork in every aspect of the game.

Cork, who had Anthony Buckley back in the side after a two-match ban, were without captain Declan Daly because of a stomach muscle tear, but they were unable to break down a resolute UCD defence in which Clive Delaney stood out.

Cork had more of the action in the second half, but UCD, with Delaney and goalkeeper Barry Ryan in top form, absorbed all the pressure and scored a classic counter-attacking goal four minutes from time to seal their victory.

John Martin again supplied the cross for midfielder Mick O'Donnell to side-foot home in the 86th minute as Liam Murphy's side slumped to their third home defeat of the season.

"This is a huge result for us. It's a result to keep us away from the wrong end of the table. We are not looking to win the league, we have to be realistic about that, but this result is the perfect morale-booster for us ahead of our FAI Cup tie away to Drogheda United at the weekend," said Doolin .

Cork City: Devine; Carey, Coughlan, O'Rourke, Horgan; Buckley, O'Grady, Benntt, Cahill; Mulligan, Hartigan. Subs: O'Brien for Mulligan (64 mins), Flanagan for Buckley (84 mins).

UCD: B Ryan; Keating, Delaney, McAuley, D Ryan; J Martin, Doolin, McNally, O'Donnell; R Martin, C Martyn. Sub: Quinn for Martyn (74 mins)

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).