TRAILING by five points with 15 minutes left, Cork displayed tremendous character to gain a deserved draw at Ballybofey.

Colin Corkery scored the vital levelling point for Cork with the last kick of the game, a 13 metre free, but Corkery will concede that his dramatic levelling score should not have been required.

Cork kicked eight second half wides, and were laying siege to the Donegal goal. The wet conditions made shooting difficult, but even so, Cork might well have won but for the opportunities wasted.

Donegal defenders added to the drama when they tried to hold possession and protect a one point lead for the final eight minutes. They passed the ball across and back to their goalkeeper in what were extremely dangerous tactics.

Donegal rode their luck both of their goals were somewhat fortunate. After 11 minutes, Brian Roper bundled the ball over the Cork line, pouncing on a fumble by goalkeeper Kevin O'Dwyer.

Two point ahead (1-3 to 0-4) at halftime, Donegal's second goal after 39 minutes was brilliantly flicked to the net by Tony Boyle after Manus Boyle slipped while going for a point from a free.

Cork's response must have pleased new manager Larry Tompkins. Corkery, Padraig O'Mahony (2), and Ciaran O'Sullivan narrowed the deficit to one point by the 54th minute.

That set the game up for the final tense minutes of drama, with Corkery finally securing Cork a share of the spoils.