Goals on the stroke of half time from Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Ruairi Keating give Cork a slender hope of surviving the dreaded relegation play-offs overcoming UCD this afternoon.

The hope is very slender, six points behind Sligo Rovers with three games left, both sides have a tough run in of games but Cork still have a chance but with home games to come against Derry and Shamrock Rovers, they need all six points on offer.

Stranger things have happened but with a vocal home support on Friday against Derry you never know what can happen in this league. Cork are not dead and buried just yet, they know what is required after Sligo face St Pat’s tomorrow.

It was a brought start from the students, eight minutes into the contest, Oliver Byrne had a tip an Adam Verdon effort out for a corner. Jack Keaney did have an effort that flashed wide as the students looked in control early on.

Minutes later a colossal mixup at the back almost had Cork behind, Joshua Honohan and Byrne with a lack of communication at the back, allowing Mikey Raggett to have a chance at goal, Honohan managed to recover well and get a vital clearance to prevent City going behind.

Cork did have chances themselves to take the lead, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh fizzing a free kick goalwards, Kian Moore well able to make the save. After the half hour mark O’Brien-Whitmarsh again forced Moore into a save, the UCD netminder producing a stunning save to keep the tie goalless.

Three minutes later it looked like the Students had drawn first blood, Dara Keane slipping Raggett through on goal, Byrne out like a flash to save the effort, Ciaran Behan attempted to follow up with the rebound that shot sailed over the crossbar.

With a quickfire double shy of the half time whistle Cork City took control of the contest, O'Brien-Whitmarsh striking home from inside the area as UCD failed to clear, shortly afterwards Ruari Keating slipped through to strike at Moore’s near post to double the lead. Keating is now tied for the top scorer accolade this season.

Keating almost made it three mere minutes into the second half, his strike dragged wide of the UCD goal. Keaney almost pulled one back for UCD minutes later after his effort from the edge of the area was tipped over by Byrne, it looked destined to nestle in the top corner.

Cork continued to press well Malik Dijksteel fired over before Gordon Walker was unable to put the finishing touches on a sublime well worked team move. Had that gone it we would have seen a goal of the season contender for sure.

The latter stages dragged on in the second half with little side having any major chances, the next week will tell a lot as to what will happen on Leeside.