Cork City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1:CORK CITY were denied their first Premier Division win of the season at Turner's Cross as Gary Twigg equalised deep into injury-time to maintain champions Shamrock Rovers' unbeaten record.

Former Cork player Billy Dennehy’s cross was headed back into the danger area and Twigg was on hand to touch the ball home.

The champions enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the first half, although Cork’s defending was solid overall, Dan Murray and Kavanagh benefiting from the protection afforded John Dunleavy in a defensive midfield role.

As half-time neared, a Davin O’Neill header took a deflection off Craig Sives but Oscar Jansson saved well and then, after O’Neill felt he should have had a penalty after a clash with Ken Oman, Shane O’Connor had a snap-shot which was just past the post.

The hosts had the first real chance of the second half. Daryl Horgan latched on to a Davin O’Neill pass only for Jansson to come off his line quickly to smother the low shot.

Seven minutes later, the goalkeeper looked to have things covered as Kavanagh shot from distance, but the ball took an awkward bounce six yards out and City were ahead.

Rovers sought to up the tempo, but in the 78th minute left back Conor Powell received a straight red card following a mistimed challenge on Gearóid Morrissey.

Twigg had the final say.

CORK CITY: McNulty; Turner, Kavanagh, D Murray, D Murphy; D Horgan, G Morrissey, Dunleavy, O’Connor (Healy 69); O’Neill (Purcell 76), Sullivan.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Gilbert, Sives, Oman, Powell; Brennan (Kavanagh 73), Rice (Turner 76), Finn, Dennehy; Twigg, O’Neill (Greene 60).

Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).