Byrne goal earns Cork a point

National League Premier Division/Waterford Utd 1 Cork City 1: All the excitement and drama of a Munster derby was present at the RSC last night where Waterford United and Cork City, level on points in the league table, played a 1-1 draw even though both sides had opportunities to break the deadlock.

On the night, there may have been a paucity of delicate footballing skills on display but there was no shortage of commitment and passion as both sides played themselves to a standstill, urged on by two sets of noisy supporters in the 3,000 strong attendance.

The visitors were on top in a first half where much of the action was bunched into the middle of the pitch.

But, in the second period, United moved up a gear, spread the game wide and, on balance, probably deserved to shade victory.

United opened the scoring on 39 minutes when Mark Clifford played a through ball to Vinnie Sullivan who swivelled on the spot and volleyed high into the net from 16 yards.

City almost equalised four minutes later but a super tackle by Clifford whipped the ball off John O'Flynn's foot just as he was about to strike with the goal at his mercy.

However, City sensed there was a goal for the taking before the break and it duly arrived in the second minute of time added on. George O'Callaghan took a corner from the left, United's goalkeeper Dan Connor failed to gather and Willie Byrne headed home from point blank range.

The tempo of the game increased in the second half and, on 62 minutes, Murphy raced 30 yards down the left wing before drilling a low shot across the goal that went inches wide.

In the 90th minute the Blues again went close to snatching the points but Sullivan put a shot inches wide of the near post.

WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, Carey, Frost, Kennedy, Mulcahy, Purcell, Clifford, Fitzgerald, Murphy (Banville, 77 min), Sullivan, Waters.

CORK CITY: Devine, Murphy, Bennett, O'Halloran, O'Brien, Fenn (Sweeney, 73 min), O'Flynn, Woods, O'Callaghan, Byrne, Nwankwo.

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).