O'Brien shows new boys how it's done

Given that he found himself talking once again about all those old Rovers characteristics the club's current crop of players have to learn for themselves, Damien Richardson could have done worse than to ask Liam O'Brien to step into the home side's dresssing-room and give a little talk: "Winning the Cup: our great tradition".

It has a ring to it, but then it might not have sounded so good coming from the Dubliner after the role he played in what was a memorable cup tie at Santry yesterday.

O'Brien, of course, won two cup medals with Rovers back in the mid-Eighties, but having been thrown into the proceedings yesterday with just over 20 minutes left, he promptly scuppered his old club's hopes of a guaranteed place in next week's third round draw.

The lead that Sean Francis had given the locals after five minutes evaporated within moments of his first touch, a 20-yard shot that took a minor deflection but somehow wasn't blocked on its path, through a densely packed area, to goal.

The goal earned City a replay at Turner's Cross on Wednesday, a game which recent history would suggest they won't lose. And if Rovers do go out of the cup prematurely once again, then Richardson, who preferred after this game to dwell on the progress his players have made in recent months, will know deep down that they have no one to blame except themselves.

For most of the opening period the Dubliners pulled off the rather neat trick of having less of the possession but just about all of the really good scoring chances.

With Brian Byrne producing what was probably his best 45 minutes since arriving at the club, Richardson's strikers could, and should, have had their side three or four up at the break.

Justifiably, goalkeeper Phil Harrington received praise from Dave Barry for his part in restricting the deficit, but Graham Lawlor, Shane Robinson, Francis and then Billy Woods all might have put the tie beyond the visitors' reach.

With each lost chance, though, the conviction that Rovers would be made to pay grew, and, having produced nothing from far more promising scenarios, City finally came good.

With the replay to be decided by penalties if necessary next time, Rovers' chance appears to have passed. The question now is whether Cork can take theirs.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Brazil, Purdy, Palmer, Dunne; Robinson, Colwell, Woods, Byrne; Lawlor, Francis. Subs: Britton for Robinson (60 mins), Crowley for Colwell (81 mins), Cousins for Byrne (87 mins).

CORK CITY: Harrington; O'Halloran, Coughlan, Hill, Cronin; C O'Brien, Herrick, Freyne, Cahill; Caulfield, Morley. Subs: Glynn for C O'Brien (54 mins), L O'Brien for Caulfield (68 mins), Hartigan for Morley (89 mins).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).