Cork City's latest scoring sensation, Colin Patrick O'Brien from Ballydehob in west Cork, came up trumps for the home team for the second time in a week at Turner's Cross yesterday.
The 18-year-old striker, making his third appearance as a substitute, fired home a match-winning goal two minutes into added time after coming on as a substitute for Pat Morley after 55 minutes' play.
O'Brien, who made his first start and scored in the 2-1 away win over Galway United in mid-week, cracked home a sweet half-volley after Kelvin Flanagan's flick-on to Neal Horgan's cross.
Cork, who were a goal down after just six minutes when Sean Francis scored a bizarre lead goal, scored twice in the closing 10 minutes to snatch all three points.
Cork equalised 10 minutes from time when Alan Carey's cross was missed by James Mulligan, but Greg Costello, standing directly behind him, handled the ball inside the box.
City's Kelvin Flanagan assumed the responsibility and scored with a right-footed drive high into Tony O'Dowd's net.
It was a thrilling second half as Cork clawed their way back into the contest and this latest victory hoists them into fifth place in the table for the first time all season.
Rovers, with Pat Deans at centre half for the injured Pat Scully (calf muscle), took the lead after just six minutes of play.
Sean Francis ghosted past Cork's Damian O'Rourke on the end line and his shot-cum-cross evaded both Derek Coughlan and goalkeeper Michael Devine, going into the net through the goalkeeper's legs.
City, on the strength of their second-half showing, just about deserve their win as Rovers, who would have been happy with a share of the points before kick-off, were punished by two sucker punches late on.
CORK CITY: Devine, Daly, Coughlan, O'Rourke, Carey, Flanagan, O'Grady, Cahill, Horgan, Morley, Mulligan. Subs: Bennett for O'Rourke (38 mins); C P O'Brien for Morley (55 mins).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd, Costello, Palmer, Deans, Dunne, Kenny, Tracey, Colwell, Woods, T Grant, Francis. Subs: Robinson for Kenny (56 mins); S Grant for Francis (76 mins); Cousins for T Grant (90 mins).
Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford)
