National League/Cork City 2; Shamrock Rovers 2: Cork City kept Shamrock Rovers at bay with a spirited late rally that produced a second equalising goal from Alan Bennett in a dramatic finish at Turner's Cross last night.

The visitors' opening goal in the 14th minute was no more than they deserved. Their early football was full of good things - they played an accurate passing game at impressive speed. Trevor Croly fired a pass forward for Trevor Molloy and he back-heeled it down the right wing for Shane Robinson to chase. His quick cross was calmly side-footed home at the far post by Glen Fitzpatrick.

Rovers owed much of their early progress to the work of wingers Robinson and Stephen Grant, and they gave Cork's full-backs a torrid time. But with George O'Callaghan exerting a growing influence Cork came roaring back.

They were not best served by a referee who let far too much go.

Cork got their deserved equaliser in the 23rd minute when Neal Horgan latched on to a headed clearance and drove a left-foot shot home from 18 yards.

The goal was a huge encouragement to Cork who went close to jumping in front when Behan forced goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd to a great save with a powerful shot from 30 yards within five minutes of the re-start.

Rovers second came when Samir Boughanem's through ball opened a path to goal for Robinson and he sprinted clear to finish confidently with his left foot from 18 yards in the 63rd minute.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Coughlan, Bennett, Woods; Doyle, O'Grady (Nolan 78), K Murray (Nwankwo 65), Kearney (C P O'Brien 78); Behan, O'Callaghan.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Croly, McGuinness, Palmer, Doyle; Robinson, Boughanem, Colwell, S Grant; Fitzpatrick, Molloy (T Grant 78).

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).