National League Premier Division/Waterford United 0 Cork City 0: Still recovering from their midweek disappointment against Red Star Belgrade, Cork City were unable to overcome struggling Waterford United at the RSC on Saturday night and the home side picked up their first point in 13 games, and only their fourth point of the season.
The champions hustled and bustled throughout but they couldn't find a way past a resolute United defence who absorbed a tremendous amount of pressure, especially in the second half.
Waterford remain managerless but the players showed real commitment and the home team fully deserved a share of the spoils.
In fact, it was Waterford who went closest to scoring on three occasions in the first period. After Dan Murray fouled Daryl Kavanagh, a 22-yard free from debutant Alan Cawley shaved the outside of the upright on 12 minutes and, on 21 minutes, the same player took another free from almost the same position and goalkeeper Michael Devine did well to stretch full length and turn the ball out for a corner.
Eight minutes before the break, Kavanagh threaded the ball through to Stephen Grant but his low, hard shot through a crowded goalmouth took a deflection off defender Alan Bennett and spun out for a corner.
On the stroke of half-time the Cork players appealed for a penalty when John Hayes appeared to handle a Roy O'Donovan cross but referee Hugh Whoriskey waved play on.
Cawley was denied by a fast thinking Devine who raced off his line in the opening minutes of the second half and, on 55 minutes, Cork's Dan Murray headed inches over the bar from a Neal Fenn cross.
City almost went in front on the hour but United goalkeeper Ben Spicer pulled off an excellent save from Roy O'Donovan, who shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Spicer produced an equally good effort on 75 minutes when he turned out a powerful drive from Denis Behan.
Ian Fraher could have won the game for United in the 96th minute but Devine blocked down his shot.
WATERFORD UNITED: Spicer, Chambers, Russell (Flynn, 83 mins), Reynolds, Hayes (Casey, 73 mins), Browne, Fraher, Grant, Doyle, Kavanagh, Cawley (Nagle, 85 mins). Substitutes not used: Irwin, Dunphy.
CORK CITY: Devine, Murphy, Bennett, Murray, O'Brien, Fenn (Sullivan, 75 mins), Woods (Cillian Lordan, 83 mins), O'Donovan, Softic (O'Callaghan, 69 mins), Behan, Horgan. Substitutes not used: McNulty, Cathal Lordan.
Referee: H Whoriskey (Dublin).
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