Still recovering from their mid-week disappointment against Red Star Belgrade, Cork City were unable to overcome struggling Waterford United at the RSC and the Blues picked up their first point in 13 games, the game finishing 0-0.
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.
In fact, it was the Blues who went closest to scoring on three occasions in the first period. 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, Darryl 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.
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 Neall 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 first time from the edge of the 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 the Blues in injury time but Devine blocked down his shot.
Waterford United: Spicer, Chambers, Russell (Flynn, 83), Reynolds, Hayes (Casey, 73 minutes), Browne, Fraher, Grant, Doyle, Kavanagh, Cawley (Nagle, 85 minutes).
Substitutes not used: Irwin, Dunphy.
Cork City: Devine, Murphy, Bennett, Murray, O'Brien, Fenn (Sullivan, 75 minutes), Woods (Cilian Lordan, 83 minutes), O'Donovan, Softic (O'Callaghan, 69 minutes), Behan, Horgan.
Substitutes not used: McNulty, Cathal Lordan.
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey, Dublin.
