Stephen O’Donnell’s late equaliser denies former club Cork City third successive win

Cork City 2, Dundalk 2

An 88th-minute goal from former Cork City midfielder Stephen O'Donnell denied the hosts a third successive home win at Turner's Cross last night and added to the pressure on Cork manager Tommy Dunne.

Daryl Kavanagh’s 64th-minute penalty, after a foul on Daryl Horgan, looked to have given Cork victory, but chances to extend the lead were not taken and Dundalk made them pay.

They had got off to a great start as Ciarán Kilduff scored with a bicycle kick inside three minutes. Brian Gartland headed home to make it 1-1, and he looked to have repeated the trick on 35 only for Cork to be awarded a free.

Having gone in level at 1-1 at half-time, Cork began the second half well. When Daryl Horgan’s run into the box from the left was halted unfairly by John Sullivan, Kavanagh fired home from the spot.

Once Cork regained the lead, they looked likelier winners, but O’Donnell had other ideas.

CORK CITY: McNulty; N Horgan, D Murray, Spillane, Murphy; Kavanagh (Turner 90), D Morrissey, Dunleavy, Buckley, D Horgan; Kilduff.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Sullivan, Gartland, Rossiter, Massey (Shields half-time); Meehan, McCaffrey (Keegan 64), McDonnell (Kelly 59), O'Donnell, Byrne; Hoban.

Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).

Attendance: 1,670.