Davin O'Neill showed why he was regarded as a future star when he was a teenager by turning on the style in the first half of the League of Ireland Premier Division tie against Galway United at Turner's Cross.

O'Neill scored twice as Cork produced their highest scoring performance of the season to see off the challenge of a determined Galway United.

Billy Dennehy and Gareth Cambridge were also on the scoresheet for Cork as they provided exciting entertainment for a relatively modest attendance.

While numbers following Cork have dropped off amid all of the controversy of the past several months, the players gave promise of better days ahead.

Cork announced before the game they had reached agreement with the players about the payment of wages for the rest of the season and the response was immediate.

Yet Cork had to come from behind to win and they struggled a little early as they conceded a goal inside six minutes. Their young centre-half Kevin Long headed the ball into his own net.

A long ball forward from former Cork defender Sean Kelly bounced on the edge of the box. Goalkeeper Mark McNulty and Long got their signals mixed and the goalkeeper appeared to be on his way to collect the ball when Long deflected it over his head.

Two goals in three minutes in the second half settled this encounter. Galway had lost twice already to Cork this season and they had two former Cork players in their squad in Sean Kelly and Shane Guthrie. Guthrie came on as a half-time substitute.

Cork recovered from the loss of the goal to play some compelling football and they created many chances. They drew level after 20 minutes - Davin O'Neill scored with a right-footed shot after the ball broke free to him on the edge of the box.

Dennehy put Cork in front after a glorious, sweeping five man move on 60 minutes and Cambridge made it 3-1 three minutes later.

Galway pulled a goal back through Alan Murphy after 75 minutes but it was not enough for the Tribesmen as O'Neill, claimed his second of the night eight minutes from the end of an absorbing contest.

Cork City: McNulty; O'Halloran, Long, Murray, Murphy; O'Neill, Gamble, Lordan, Dennehy (Kiely 86); Silagailis, Cambridge (Duggan 90).

Substitutes Not Used: Connor, Deasy, O'Donnell.

Galway United: Ryan; Sinnott, Conneely, Breen, O'Toole (Guthrie HT); Murphy, Kelly, Fitzgerald (Russell HT), McBrien; Faherty, Greene (Molloy 75).

Substitutes Not Used: Sangi, Davoren.

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)