First-half Coleman effort maintains City's unbeaten start

Cork City 1 (Coleman 44) UCD 0 

It was nervy for long spells but 10-man Cork City maintained their unbeaten start to First Division life thanks to Cian Coleman’s towering first-half header.

The captain rose highest in a crowded box to nod home a 44th-minute corner to decide this meeting of last year’s relegated Premier Division sides in bracing cold conditions for the 3,238 spectators at Turner’s Cross.

The Students bossed the second half and would’ve been well worth an equaliser with some more composed finishing, even before Barry Coffey’s stoppage-time red card.

Regardless, the three points gained keep City third, two behind pace-setters Treaty United.

City made one change from last week’s draw at Finn Harps, with Cathal O’Sullivan replacing Niall Brookwell to facilitate a return to Tim Clancy’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

There were a few positional tweaks into the mix. First Division top-scorer Jack Doherty moved up front with Seán Murray in behind. Nathan Wood switched into a more natural wide slot while Evan McLaughlin stepped back into a holding role.

UCD were without the experience of captain Ronan Finn in midfield but they drafted in Danu Kinsella-Bishop, who scored at the Cross last year, among four switches from their Treaty defeat.

Coleman came up with a couple of early blocks for City, deflecting Michael Raggett’s shot just wide after John O’Donovan was caught in possession and shutting down Kinsella-Bishop’s opening effort.

Doherty was City’s dangerman. From his own free, he picked up a second ball to blast a swerving shot inches over the bar. His next sight of goal, after a brilliant run to collect Harry Nevin’s through ball, saw him beat the advancing keeper but not the near post.

After an end-to-end