Rovers had to battle hard to take a point from Cork tonight as the home side took the game to the Hoops without creating too many chances. A bright start from the home side saw Silagailis pounce on Bermingham’s mistake but he shot well wide. After eight minutes Shane Robinson ran at the Cork defence but his shot was weak.
The impressive Danny Murphy ran the full length of the pitch to shoot straight at Duggan on 11 minutes. A few minutes later a good move by the home side saw Stephen Rice get back to block a shot.
Cork left-full Murphy ran at the Hoops defence again on 20 minutes but his low cross was well taken by Duggan. The Hoops ‘keeper was called on again to punch away a free-kick under pressure and in the 37th minutes Denis Behan almost connected with a dangerous cross in front of the Hoops goal.
A quick free-kick by Bradley saw Ian Bermingham race into the area but his shot was blocked. Stephen Rice then saw his throw-in fall back to him and he made space before shooting but O’Connor got down well to save.
The home side finished the half strongly with Daragh Maguire forced to clear from close-range before Silagailis volleyed wide when well placed. Right at the whistle Maguire was relieved to see the ball go narrowly wide as he blocked an attempted shot.
Michael O’Neill made two changes at half-time and Greg Cameron and Sean O’Connor made an impact in the second-half. On 50 minutes Bradley made space to cross the ball but Maguire couldn’t connect at the back post. On 57 minutes Maguire again just failed to connect with the ball at the back post this time from O’Connor’s free-kick.
Aiden Price was on-hand to make a fine defensive header as Behan looked to connect with a great cross after 62 minutes. Sean O’Connor burst forward on 68 minutes but he dragged his shot wide. Bradley then found Robinson in space on the right but his first-time effort went wide. O’Connor tried his luck again on 74 minutes but fired wide. Gary Twigg was almost played in by Bradley on 77 minutes but Horgan got back to clear.
The home side mounted some late pressure but Behan’s header went across goal and wide with seven minutes remaining. With four minutes left on the clock a cross bounced dangerously across the Hoops six-yard line before eventually being forced wide. Greg Cameron was needed to make a fine defensive header from another dangerous cross but the Hoops survived a couple of late corners and free-kicks to claim a point.
