Gaynor’s stunning strike fires City

UCD 0 Cork City 4

UCD had been awkward opponents for City on two occasions this season and John Caulfield had urged caution before the game. But the hosts were simply outclassed. Further goals from Billy Dennehy and two from Garry Buckley sealed the win and it could have been more, even if it might be a bit late to start working on goal difference. With a much inferior record in that regard to Dundalk and with a potential final game league decider at Oriel Park, City must hope their closest rivals drop points before then. The sides are currently level after Dundalk got the expected win in Athlone and Stephen Kenny’s side have the chance to move three points clear again when they host Shamrock Rovers on Monday.

Since losing to Dundalk at the start of August, City’s only dropped points had come in games against Bray Wanderers and Athlone Town, who occupy two of the other three bottom places with last night’s opponents.

Caulfield had also instructed City’s fans to turn out in numbers and show support but he couldn’t have foreseen the over literal way they took his words when a handful of them spilled on to the pitch on 13 minutes.

In fairness, it was a moment of brilliance that prompted their exuberance. City had been clearly targeting Hugh Douglas who was playing at right-back but more comfortable in the centre with a natural tendency to drift inside.

When Gaynor picked up the ball outside the box Douglas, aware of Dennehy’s menacing presence to his right, backed off and allowed the full-back to unleash a brilliant left-footed shot which flew past Conor O’Donnell into the far top corner. It was 2-0 14 minutes later and again the threat had originated on the left flank. John Dunleavy surged forward and, encouraged by a UCD defence backing off, the midfielder burst into the box. Douglas may have been somewhat unlucky to see referee Padraig Sutton point to the spot after what looked like a tangle of legs. Douglas was booked and Dennehy dispatched the penalty low past O’Donnell.

And it could easily have been three on 34 minutes. This time Dennehy crossed to the back post where John O’Flynn, arriving at pace, smashed a volley against O’Donnell. Buckley followed up but his effort was scraped off the line and away.

UCD have a number of skilful footballers but tend to lose the ball too easily and in dangerous places. Samir Belhout was much quicker than City’s two centre-backs but the Students never crafted a move to give him the chance to exploit it. The home side’s frustration was illustrated well when Benson moved forward but ballooned a shot over when he had options to find a team-mate.

Aaron Callaghan tried to give his side a more heavy-duty look by bringing on Conor Cannon at half-time with Belhout shifted wide. Nine minutes later that move looked a disaster, with Belhout off for two yellow cards for fouls on John Kavanagh.

City deepened the students’ misery on 64 minutes when Buckley stabbed home Darren Dennehy’s flick-on in the box.

Ironically, UCD then had their best chance to pull one back but Cannon blasted over from a couple of yards after Mark McNulty had kept out Robbie Benson’s rasping drive.

Caulfield’s side had eased off at that point but Mark O’Sullivan should have made it four when he shot over from close range.

The fourth goal did arrive three minutes from the end. Buckley nodded Gaynor’s corner goalwards and after O’Donnell had saved he knocked in the rebound under no pressure a few yards out. It was a fitting indictment of the raggedness in the home defence.

That inspired the away fans to break into song with a chorus of The Banks Of My Own Lovely Lee, but it remains to be seen if those notes are echoing out over Oriel Park in two weeks’ time.

UCD: C O’Donnell; H Douglas, J Kavanagh, I Ryan, G Matthews; C Mulhall (T Molloy, 75), R Creevy, R Benson, A Ben Mohamed (C Cannon, 45); G Burke (C Crowe, 62); S Belhout.

Yellow cards: Mulhall 18, Belhout 51, 54

Red card: Belhout 54

CORK CITY: M McNulty; J Kavanagh (J O’Shea, 75), D Dennehy, D Murray, R Gaynor; G Buckley, J Dunleavy, C Healy, B Dennehy (L Kearney, 70); M O’Sullivan (D O’leary), J O’Flynn.

Yellow card: Gaynor 18

Referee: P Sutton (Clare)

Attendance: 425