Darragh Crowley served up an early goal of the season contender at Tallaght Stadium last night to leave four-in-a-row chasing Shamrock Rovers winless.
But it could have been even worse for the Hoops, who were two-down with six minutes of normal time remaining, before super subs Simon Power and Sean Hoare rescued a point.
There was deep concern late in the game when a sickening clash of heads sent Rovers’ Trevor Clarke and Cork’s Aaron Bolger to the turf.
It was quickly apparent that Bolger was in trouble, as teammates - and Cork boss Colin Healy - called for medical attention.
After a lengthy spell of treatment on the pitch, Bolger was stretchered off to applause from both sets of fans.
By this stage, Rovers were the odd goal down in seven, and were desperately chasing an equaliser, with 10 minutes of added time still to come.
Events up to that point were nothing short of sensational on a cold Monday night.
Let’s start with Cleary’s cracker.
It looked like a straightforward clean up job on 38 minutes as Dan Cleary and goalkeeper Alan Mannus outnumbered Daniel Krezic in pursuit of a hopeful flick forward.
Cleary’s arm went out, as if to invite Mannus to seize the initiative, but the keeper slipped as he put his foot through the ball on the edge of his area.
Realising the potential for trouble, he sprang back to his feet and charged back towards goal.
But so quick was Crowley to control the ball and so precise was his 40-yard finish that the former Northern Ireland man, at full-stretch, couldn’t stop the shot from dropping under his bar.
On another night, Trevor Clarke would be the big story. His rampaging runs down the left were too much for Gordon Walker.
When he fouled the Hoops wing-back once too often for referee Rob Harvey’s liking, Walker was booked. Moments later, with 38 minutes on the clock, the full-back was hooked.
He was replaced by Kevin Custovic and was walking straight down the tunnel as Crowley was producing his moment of magic.
Within minutes of his arrival, Custovic also saw yellow for a foul on Clarke.
Clarke was electric on the left flank and was desperately unlucky that his slick build-up play wasn’t rewarded with more clinical finishing.
Dylan Watts was the closest to scoring off Clarke’s hard work. He was agonisingly close on 21 minutes when his 20-yard curler smashed off the underside of the bar.
Rovers were 1-0 up at that stage, despite the best efforts of Cork goalkeeper Corcoran.
With 14 minutes on the clock, he saved with his feet from Gary O’Neill and Gaffney, as Byrne’s corner bounced around the Cork area.
But the former Ireland underage man could do nothing as Gaffney gathered the rebound, switched onto his left foot and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Rovers were in control and seemingly comfortable, thanks in part to Clarke and to their domination of possession.
But the game turned on its head on 34 minutes.
Keating headed the ball to Bolger, who played it to Crowley on the right. The low cross was inviting, but it still required a skillful near-post finish by Keating to lift the ball over Mannus.
Four minutes later and Crowley’s brilliant display of initiative and courage put the Leesiders ahead - and that’s where they remained at the break, despite the best efforts of Markus Poom and Clarke.
Rovers drew level on 54 minutes when Lee Grace rose at the near post to flick Byrne’s corner inside the right-hand upright.
But Cork were ahead again four minutes later when sub Custovic slammed the ball home from close range.
And Crowley slotted home his second of the night to silence the home crowd, when Cian Bargary’s cross evaded a couple of Rovers defenders and found him unmarked 10 yards from goal.
There were still 21 minutes left and it quickly became clear that Cork would spend most of that under fierce pressure.
Corcoran made a sensational save to deny a Gaffney header on 71 minutes, Cleary headed off the post moments later and Watts’ drive was deflected over.
Subs Neil Farrugia and Simon Power went close, before Power finally pulled one back with six minutes remaining, flicking home Byrne’s cross from close range.
Hoare’s looping header seven minutes into stoppage time rescued a point for Rovers in this high-octane rollercoaster of a game.
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