Cork City 1-2 Dundalk

Cork City suffered a major setback in their title challenge after a home defeat to a very determined and well organised Dundalk side in front of 2,111 fans at Turner's Cross.

Cork goalkeeper Dan Connor had a night to forget, first bringing down Declan O'Brien in the penalty area, with Chris Turner scoring from the penalty area, and then getting stranded on the edge of the penalty area to allow Michael Daly to lob home.

Shane Duggan was sent off for City in between the goals for a second bookable offence.

Denis Behan belted home a 20-yard-shot for a late Cork consolation goal.

This was the first meeting of the clubs at Turner's Cross since February 2002, just before the Co Louth club were relegated to the First Division.

But the sides had clashed earlier in the season when Cork won 2-1 at Oriel Park.

Cork were again without their injured midfield general Joe Gamble, as he recovers from minor knee surgery.

Manager Paul Doolin made changes in attack, leaving out Denis Behan and Fahrudin Kudozovic, introducing young reserve players Alan O'Connor and Timmy Kiely.

Dundalk had the better of the opening half hour and created problems for the Cork defence with Darren Mansaram a handful for Dan Murray and Greg O'Halloran.

It was no surprise when they went in front from the penalty spot after 34 minutes.

Connor charged into Declan O'Brien in the penalty area, referee Damien Hancock correctly pointed to the penalty spot, with Chris Turner coolly converting the spot kick for his seventh goal of the season.

Worse was to follow for Cork shortly afterwards when young midfielder Duggan was shown a second yellow card by referee Hancock. He was one of four home players booked in the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors were helped again by goalkeeper Connor a minute before the break, when he raced out of his penalty area and was caught by Michael Daly who lobbed the ball into an empty net from 20 yards.

Cork manager Paul Doolin switched things for the second half, introducing dropped top-scorer Denis Behan at half time,with Fahrudin Kuduzovic and Stephen O'Donell coming in shortly after the break.

Despite being down a man, The Leesiders pushed for a goal and were rewarded when sub Behan cracked home an unstoppable shot past Chris Bennion from the edge of the penalty area.

There were seven minutes of added time because of substitutions and a late injury to Dundalk defender Liam Burns, but Dundalk held on for a deserved win. It is their third in a row and first at the venue since 2001.

For Cork these are difficult times, no win now in six games, out of the FAI Cup and slipping out of the title race.

Cork City: Connor; Sullivan, O'Halloran(Behan 45), Murray, Murphy; O'Connor (Kudozovic 52), Healy, Lordan (O'Donnell 55), Duggan, Kiely; Siligailis.

Subs: Horgan, McNulty.

Dundalk: Bennion; Coburn, Burns (McGinley 81), Kelly; Mulvenna, Turner (Sinnott 62), Heary, Daly, O'Brien; Mansaram, Rowe.

Subs: Smith, Coulter.

Referee: Damien Hancock(Dublin).