Langtry makes slack City pay

This was not the return to the Premier Division which Cork City were hoping for on a night in which a defensive lapse and a couple of squandered chances for the visitors meant that a well-organised UCD deservedly emerged with the spoils in what was, overall, a disappointing game at the Belfield Bowl.

Manager Tommy Dunne gave competitive debuts to new signings John Dunleavy, Shane O’ Connor and Tadhg Purcell – the striker in the lone role up front — while there were also starts for returning favourites Colin Healy and skipper Dan Murray, the latter coming back on the first day of the new season to the ground where, on the final day of last season, he lifted the Premier League trophy with Shamrock Rovers.

But for the Leesiders’ return to the top-flight, the visitors were missing two of last year’s star performers, Davin O’ Neill and Daryl Horgan both falling foul of a flu bug.