Bohemians survived a penalty and having to play with only 10 men for the closing six minutes as they picked up an important point at Turners Cross yesterday.

The penalty incident arrived after 84 minutes when Eoin Mullen was penalised for a foul on Cork substitute Stephen Napier. The Bohemians defender protests earned him a red card for the dissent; but Bohemianss survived a major scare as goalkeeper Wayne Russell saved the weak penalty that followed from Ollie Cahill.

Cork lost a glorious opportunity of closing the gap on leaders Shamrock Rovers by not converting the penalty; but in truth their form was unimpressive and Bohemians deserved to go home with at least a draw.

Indeed, Bohemians might have made life much more uncomfortable for Cork had Glen Crowe been able to take advantage of two rapid-fire opportunities just before half-time. Sadly for him he shot the first wide and was then robbed by goalkeeper Noel Mooney minutes later, when he seemed about to score.

Cork made Bohemians pay for these misses when Pat Morley scored a delightful goal three minutes into the second half. He ran on to an excellent pass from Liam O'Brien before beating goalkeeper Russell from 22 yards. Bohemians were deservedly level after 82 minutes thanks to an extraordinary goal. Tony O'Connor drove a free-kick from halfway into the penalty area and must have been surprised to see it flail over the head of goalkeeper Mooney and into the net.

Cork City: Mooney, Daly, Hill, Cronin, Colin O'Brien, Liam O'Brien, Freyne, Herrick, Cahill, Caulfield, Morley. Subs: Napier and Gaynor for Freyne and Morley (72 mins); Dobbs for Caulfield (80 mins).

Bohemians: Russell, O'Connor, Maher, Mullen, Avery, Huggins, Hunt, Caffrey, Byrne, Crowe, Harris. Subs: Dempsey for Huggins (34 mins); Kelly for Harris (52 mins); Swan for Avery (72 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin)