Cork City earned a massive three points at the UCD Bowl in a high-quality encounter settled by 16-year-old sensation Cillian Murphy.

Making their first trip to the capital of the campaign, the Rebel Army continued their unbeaten start to the season, though the Students proved a very tough nut to crack for the title favourites.

And back at the scene of when they last secured the First Division title the visitors, as expected, made a dominant start. Hans Mpongo showed tremendous trickery down the left trying to feed the dynamic duo of Seani Maguire and Ruairi Keating with some clever low crosses, with both having chances from narrow angles after razor sharp movement.

Having held off the initial wave the hosts played their way into the game.

Always dangerous on the counter-attack, Students winger Stephen Mohan created havoc and forced some bodies-on-the-line defending as the frenetic start showed no signs of slowing.

Both teams sensed an opening wasn’t far away and midway through the first half Louis Dignam’s 25-yard thunderbolt was brilliantly held by Connor Brann before the league’s top scorer Maguire looked to add to his five goals, but narrowly missed the bottom corner with a flicked near-post header.

On the stroke of half-time the fleet-footed Mohan cut in from the left and dribbled across the edge of the area but after evading a couple of challenges, dragged his low shot back across goal past the post as their long search for their first goal against City in their last five attempts rolled on.

Similar to the first half, the visitors came flying out of the traps. Having earned a spate of corners, one of which saw Darragh Crowley clip the outside of the post with a looping effort, the breakthrough finally came just eight minutes after the restart.

Joshua Fitzpatrick drilled in a low cross from the right that wasn’t dealt with by the UCD defence, with a tame clearance falling invitingly to the feet of Murphy. The talented teenager made no mistake and swept the ball home expertly to become one of the youngest goalscorers in Cork City’s history with his first senior goal.

The hosts really should have hit back straight away but again Mohan’s finishing just let him down at the crucial moment. Having picked up the ball at the back post, the lively winger shot straight at Brann from point blank range as the gilt-edged chance slipped away.

The one-way traffic quickly continued with the table-toppers looking to kill the game off. Dara Kavanagh was forced into a number of top class saves as the Leesiders spurned some glorious opportunities.

The longer the second half continued with just the one goal deficit, the potential for a nervy finish grew, yet the well-marshalled City defence showed no signs of creaking as they stood firm to take all three points and extend their unbeaten run against the Students to seven games.

UCD: Dara Kavanagh; Sean Murphy (Thomas Morley, 76’), Niall Holohan, Carl Lennox (Charles Akimrintoyo, 90+6′), Luca Cailloce; Louis Dignam, Adam Wells; Stephen Mohan (Goodness Ogbonna, 65’), Killian Cailloce (Michael McCullagh, 65’), Ciaran Behan; Hugh Smith (Michael Raggett, 75’)

Subs not used: Noah Douglas, Matthew Alonge, Jayden Goad, Colin Bolton

Cork City: Conor Brann; Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons: Hans Kamta Mpongo (Conor Drinan, 59’), Darragh Crowley, Greg Bolger, Cillian Murphy (AJ Bridge, 83’), Josh Fitzpatrick (Harry Nevin, 75’); Ruairi Keating (Matthew Murray, 75’), Sean Maguire

Subs not used: David Odumosu, Matthew Kiernan, Niall O’Keefe, Ike Manjor-Georgewill, Brody Lee

Referee: Lucas Keating

Second-place Bray Wanderers lost ground on league leaders Cork City after they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Cobh Ramblers.

The visitors looked set for all three points after Dan Ring opened the scoring on the half hour mark, but Ramblers ensured a share of the spoils after Jason Abbott’s 85th minute penalty.

Treaty United caused something of an upset when they registered their first win with a 2-0 success over Athlone Town.

Ben Feeney put the hosts in front after the resumption before a Cian Curtis penalty sealed victory at Markets Field.

Kerry joined Finn Harps on six points in the table after a 1-0 win over the Donegal club at Mouthawk Park. The hosts were without a victory from their opening five games, but the home supporters went home happy with Cian Murphy’s 25th-minute strike the only goal of the contest.