UCD prevented Cork City from clinching the First Division title, but it remains a matter of time as the Leesiders’ two-goal victory over Wexford left them just two points shy of a Premier Division return.
For long stretches of the second half, it looked like the evening would end in celebrations for the 2,556 crowd at Turner’s Cross.
However, UCD’s 89th-minute winner in a 5-4 thriller against Finn Harps put the champagne on ice for another week.
A day after Seani Maguire described Cillian Murphy as the “star player in the whole league this year”, the 17-year-old made the difference with his sixth goal of the season.
He then turned provider for Maguire’s third goal in three games, and 11th of an injury-disrupted season, to seal the victory, if not quite the silverware.
Wexford stay eighth, seven points off the play-offs with seven games remaining.
After a couple of goalscoring appearances off the bench, Maguire returned to City’s starting team for the first time since June. Charlie Lyons was also introduced with Harry Nevin and Conor Drinan dropping out.
With Max Murphy suspended and Robbie McCourt absent, Liam Doyle and Ryan Butler came into Wexford’s back five.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Tom Bolger, father of City midfielder Greg.
The visitors got off to the brighter start and could’ve opened the scoring when Mikie Rowe received the ball in space down the right. Conor Brann got a strong hand to his low drive.
FIRST DIVISION TABLE
A route one attack produced City’s first chance of note as Ruairí Keating’s shot was swatted away by Paul Martin.
With Bray Wanderers and UCD taking the lead inside 20 minutes, it looked unlikely that City would be wrapping up the title, but both had been pegged back by the 40th minute. Indeed, UCD were behind by half-time.
Jake Doyle sprung the offside trap for another big Wexford chance. This time, Brann was out fast to make the block.
Under the new directives to speed up the game, Martin was punished by Daryl Carolan for taking too long over a goal kick. The scramble from the resulting corner pressed the keeper into action to mop up.
City’s sixth corner was closer again, with Ryan Ritchie grateful to Martin for preventing an own goal and taking them into half-time all square.
Cillian Murphy had City ahead within minutes of the restart. Niall O’Keeffe found Maguire’s brilliant run with an equally sharp pass. From there, the ex-Ireland international’s pull-back fell for Murphy to deftly tap in.Murphy returned the favour in the 74th minute.
He won and then delivered a corner for the wide-open Maguire, whose movement was again too much for the Wexford defence, to nod in the simplest of finishes.
Zayd Abada’s cross forced Brann to tap over, while Hans Mpongo’s mazy dribble teed up Joe Aidoo to thump just wide.
With Bray losing, all eyes were on the UCD score as they came from behind to lead 3-2 and 4-3, only for Harps to respond each time.
Ultimately, Hugh Smith’s winner made it 5-4 as City head for Bray next week aiming to put the title to bed.
Cork City: Conor Brann; Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons; Josh Fitzpatrick (Harry Nevin 52), Darragh Crowley, Niall O’Keeffe (Joe Aidoo 58), Hans Mpongo; Cillian Murphy; Ruairí Keating, Seani Maguire.
Wexford Paul Martin; Liam Doyle (Zak O’Sullivan 78), Ryan Butler, Rhys Bartley, Kian Dignam, Jamie Wynne; Gavin Hodgins (Zayd Abada 72), Kaylem Harnett, Ryan Ritchie (Alex Norval 89), Mikie Rowe; Jake Doyle.Referee: Daryl Carolan (Louth).
Smith’s late winner for the Students settled a wild contest against Finn Harps, in which the visitors led 2-1 at the break, two goals in quick succession from Shaunie Bradley and Oran Brogan turning the tables after Charles Akinrintayo gave the hosts an early lead.
Luca Cailloce and Louis Dignam found the net to restore UCD’s lead before Gavin McAleer made it 3-3 with just under 20 minutes remaining. They were only level for three minutes before Dignam scored again from a viciously struck free-kick from distance.
But then Max Hutchinson levelled it up again on 79 minutes with the eighth goal of an anarchic contest before Smith won the game for the home side as injury-time loomed.
Louis Dignam that is outrageous 🤩
UCD now lead 4-3 at home to Finn Harps! pic.twitter.com/SeXBLr1zve
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 28, 2026
Bray Wanderers’ already non-existent chances of automatic promotion were formally ruled out after a 2-1 loss away to Athlone Town.
Endri Mustalli gave Bray an early lead but the midlanders were back level through Will Smith’s equaliser. Peter Grogan struck the winner shortly after the hour mark to condemn the visitors to a second successive defeat in the midlands.
Longford Town remain ahead of Cobh Ramblers in the table despite surrendering a two-goal lead in St Colman’s Park.
The Town scored twice within three minutes in the run-in to half-time, Dean Williams and Aaron Doran on target. However, Dara McCormick pulled one back within a few minutes of the restart before Jonas Cohen Stjernberg levelled the game with 20 minutes remaining.
The two teams are still in the play-off spots in fourth and fifth respectively though both Athlone and Kerry FC are breathing down their necks with both recording victories tonight.
Kerry dispatched Munster rivals Treaty United 3-1, Sean McGrath, Ryan Perez and Niall Brookwell on target, Ronan Manning finding the net for the visitors.