FAI National League, Premier Division/Cork City 1; Shelbourne 1: Shelbourne took an important step towards the league title when they came from behind to snatch a draw against Cork City in a high-powered contest at Turner's Cross last night.
Cork led after 13 minutes when Liam Kearney drilled home a powerful shot from inside the penalty box and a spirited performance by Cork denied Shelbourne an equalising goal until the 89th minute.
Shelbourne equalised when former Cork player Ollie Cahill penetrated the opposing defence on the left wing before angling in a fine cross that was headed powerfully to the net by Jamie Harris.
It was a fitting end to a splendid match and it gave Shelbourne the draw their second-half performance deserved.
But they will be the first to acknowledge the quality of Cork's football - the home side went extremely close to causing an upset.
Cork announced last night that their skilful centre-forward George O'Callaghan had signed an extension to his contract that will keep him with the club until the end of season 2005.
O'Callaghan was kept out of last night's game by suspension. He joined Cork from Port Vale at the beginning of last season.
The absence of O'Callaghan and leading goalscorer John O'Flynn left Cork worried about a loss of firepower, but so well did their teenage strike force of Denis Behan and Kevin Doyle play that this was not immediately a factor.
Behan and Doyle stretched the Shelbourne defence repeatedly with their pace and skill and the opening goal reflected Shelbourne's discomfort.
A poor throw from near the corner flag on the right wing from Colin T O'Brien looked routine for the Shelbourne defence.
But centre-back Kevin Doherty miscued his attempted clearance, sending the ball across his own penalty area, and Kearney drove his shot home from 16 yards.
Shelbourne failed to produce any pattern to their play in the opening half. Nevertheless, a couple of scoring chances fell the way of their lively striker Jason Byrne.
He drove carelessly over the bar after a mistake by Derek Coughlan within minutes of Cork's opening goal and missed an even better chance within six minutes of the restart.
Cahill set up Harris for a cross which found Byrne unmarked, but from 16 yards he turned the ball wide.
Cork were unlucky not to extend their lead in the 25th minute when Dan Murray headed against the crossbar after a free by the excellent Kearney and an entertaining game produced chances at both ends.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Coughlan, D. Murray, Woods; C. T. O'Brien, K. Murray (Bennett 67), O'Halloran, Kearney; Doyle, Behan (Casey 85).
SHELBOURNE : Williams; Heary, McCarthy, Doherty (Geoghegan 85), Rogers; Hoolohan (R. Baker 71), S. Byrne, Crawford (Morgan 77), Cahill; J. Byrne, Harris.
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
