Rovers (1) 1 - Sullivan 3'
Cork City (0) 2 - Dennehy 65' Duggan 76'
League of Ireland - Tallaght Stadium - Tuesday 20 October 2009

23 Alan Mannus
19 Pat Sullivan
5 Aiden Price
4 Daragh Maguire
3 Ian Bermingham
14 Ollie Cahill
7 Shane Robinson
8 Stephen Rice
17 Ross Chisholm
18 Dessie Baker
22 Graham Barrett

Subs'
11 Sean O'Connor
for Rice 55'
21 Padraig Amond
for Baker 67'
9 Gary Twigg
for Bermingham 73'
15 Corie Treacy
1 Barry Murphy

The Hoops suffered a setback despite taking an early lead as a resurgent Cork side responded with two second-half goals.

It was a dream start for the Hoops as Chisholm chased a through ball in the third minute and found Cahill in space who sent the ball across the Cork goalmouth and Sullivan popped up on the right edge of the box to shoot past McNulty.

However Rovers never built on that early goal and gradually Cork started to keep possession and create a couple of openings themselves. Kuduzovic hit the side-netting on 8 minutes and Dennehy dragged his shot wide when well placed just 3 minutes later.

The visitors hit the side-netting again on 20 minutes when Lordan met Murphy’s deep cross. Murphy sent in another fine cross on 26 minutes but this time Mannus jumped highest to claim the ball.

Pat Sullivan made a fine intercepting block on 30 minutes to deny Dennehy before a Shane Robinson cross was taken off the toe of Ollie Cahill a couple of minutes later. Chisholm had a shot blocked after good work from Rice on 35 minutes before a fine move started by Bermingham and continued by Baker saw Robinson set up to shoot on the right hand side of the box but the Hoops captain saw his shot go across goal and narrowly wide.

Graham Barrett almost dispossessed McNulty at the end of the half as he attempted to clear but unfortunately the ball ran for a throw-in.

The beginning of the second period saw Cahill block a defensive clearance but Baker couldn’t take advantage.

The visitors got back into their stride and Dennehy turned just outside the box and curled a fine shot towards goal only for Mannus to make a flying save. On 59 minutes a quick free-kick by Robinson saw Sullivan burst into the area but his low cross was cleared in front of goal. The resultant corner saw Long head clear.

On 65 minutes Cork number 11 Billy Dennehy was allowed turn just outside the box and this time he drilled a low shot past Mannus for the equaliser. Rovers were in shock and the same player almost scored again a minute later but this time he fired his shot wide.

Rovers regrouped and sent Amond and Twigg into the fray but fell behind in the 76^th minute. Sean O’Connor failed to get his cross in and Cork broke up the right channel and the ball eventually fell to Duggan on the left-hand side of the box and he shot past Mannus to score off the right-hand side post.

The Hoops threw everything at the Cork defence and Chisholm’s cross was met by the head of Amond on 79 minutes but his header went inches wide. Two minutes later a Chisholm free-kick went across goal and Pat Sullivan met the ball as it bounced off the damp turf but his header went narrowly over the crossbar although it looked like McNulty had got his fingertips to the ball.

The Hoops launched a number of attacks in the remaining minutes but a resolute Cork defence lead by Dan Murray held out and Shane Robinson made a fine block at the other end as a counter attack saw Dennehy almost put Duggan through on goal.