National League Premier DivisionHaving returned to Richmond Park with his new club looking to go clear at the top of the table, Pat Dolan instead saw them deprived of even a share of top spot by a late and scrappy Rovers winner that Stephen Grant will claim without fear of contradiction from either of the defenders who unwittingly helped the ball into their own net three minutes from time.
The defeat was tough on Cork who had found themselves under growing pressure as the game went on but who nevertheless contained their opponents well in front of goal for the most part and looked set to take away a point after leading.
Dolan was philosophical afterwards, blaming neither the defenders who had twice failed to clear crosses from Glen Lacy that led to the goals nor referee Hugh Whoriskey who, correctly it appeared at first sight, waved away claims that Michael Devine had been impeded as he attempted to intercept the ball that led to the winner.
"Maybe in front of the Shed at Turner's Cross the decision would have gone our way but I thought he was excellent generally so we'll look at it again on television before jumping to any conclusions," said Dolan.
Liam Buckley remained quiet about the goal too, unclear even as to who had scored it after Grant's touch had appeared to be followed by a deflection off debutant Robbie Hedderman and a failed attempt at a goal-line block by Alan Bennett. "All I'll say," he smiled, "is that after drawing last week at Bohemians I'll take it without any complaints."
He went on to predict that his team's fortunes would be further improved when its strikers recovered the confidence that appears to have temporarily abandoned them. City's front two, in contrast, looked to be brimming with the stuff.
With nine goals between them before this game, John O'Flynn and George O'Callaghan have been on quite a run of late and sure enough the pair had combined well to put City ahead 22 minutes in.
Greg O'Halloran's headed flick-on gave O'Callaghan possession in a promising position 30 yards out and he, in turn, did well to push the ball into the path of his striking partner on the right hand side. When James Keddy stood off his opponent a fraction too long, the 22-year-old drilled a shot towards the bottom left corner and though it was well struck and on target, Barry Ryan looked to have had time to do better with his attempted save.
During the opening spell of the second half Rovers finally made their strong defending and greater share of the game in midfield tell and after Stephen Grant had gone close to grabbing them an equaliser, the left winger succeeded at the second attempt, heading past Devine after Lacy's cross had been helped on by Dan Murray.
From then on the home side always seemed the more likely to go on and win the game with Alan Reynolds particularly influential in the centre of the pitch against his old team.
But around the area they continued to struggle a little with neither Liam Kelly nor Trevor Molloy capable of forcing a decent save out of Devine.
With 15 minutes to play City should have nicked it when a quick break out of defence sent their strikers racing, two on one, towards the Rovers goal. O'Callaghan's cross for O'Flynn was poor, though, after which the latter's shot from a wide angle was as bad.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Ryan; Gough, Palmer, Byrne, Keddy; Lacy (Deans, 88 mins), Colwell, Reynolds, S Grant; Molloy, Kelly (T Grant, 82 mins).
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Cronin; Doyle (Warren, 80 mins), O'Grady, O'Halloran. Woods (Hedderman, 72 mins); O'Callaghan (O'Brien, 87 mins), O'Flynn.
Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).
