City held by quick-fire Hoops

Shamrock Rovers 1 Cork City 1

Rovers were unchanged from the side which shocked champions Drogheda but, with captain Dan Murray ruled out by flu, Cork were forced into what proved to be a significant change at the back, Dave Mulcahy partnering Cillian Lordan in the centre while Pat Sullivan filled the right-full berth.

And the game was 17 minutes old when the first frailties in City’s rejigged defence materialised, although the visitors lived to tell the tale. There were big shouts for a penalty from Rovers players and supporters alike when they thought Michael Devine had impeded Dessie Baker after the Cork keeper had gotten himself into difficulties following a poor back pass from Dave Mulcahy. But despite the protests, referee Tom Connolly remained unmoved and Cork sustained nothing worse than a corner kick.