Shamrock Rovers pulled off the latest of comebacks to salvage a stunning draw at home to Cork City.
Ahead by two goals with six minutes of normal time to play, the Rebels looked to be on the verge of a thrilling first win here since 2017.
However, Simon Power set-up a box-office finish for the Tallaght faithful when he pulled one back in the 84th minute.
Cork would have been good value for their first win in 10 attempts against the Hoops, but this Rovers team has never been one to give up.
And it was substitute Sean Hoare who ultimately got the equaliser in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Rovers could have found a late winner too, but their visitors held firm to come away with a draw after 104 minutes of play in Dublin 24, the game delayed when Cork's Aaron Bolger was stretchered off after a clash of heads.
Cork manager Colin Healy said afterwards that Bolger was okay but had gone to hospital for assessment.
Rovers – who remain without a win after four league games – scored three times courtesy of Rory Gaffney, Lee Grace and the aforementioned Power, before Hoare’s final heroics.
Paradoxically, Healy’s men will be relieved to have come away with a draw – despite relinquishing their two-goal lead with minutes to go.
However, City will also go home with increased confidence, following Darragh Crowley’s brace as well as goals from Ruairi Keating and Kevin Custovic.
Calm and composed in possession, Cork would have been happy with their opening 10 minutes.
Ally Gilchrist acted as Cork’s midfield conveyor belt, repeatedly diverting possession out wide to Daniel Krezic.
And it took just seven minutes for the Swedish-born attacker to convert that supply into a shot, as he forced Alan Mannus into a stinging save.
However, Cork were soon put on the back foot.
Gaffney opened the scoring just before the 15 minute mark. The 2022 Player of the Year showed immense determination to latch onto a Gary O’Neill rebound in the box, and launch the ball into the roof of the net.
Rory Gaffney finds the net for Shamrock Rovers... eventually 😅#LOI | #SHACOR pic.twitter.com/v0YhrhYFyR
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) March 6, 2023
The Hoops looked like doubling their lead minutes later, when Jack Byrne rattled the crossbar from a free-kick.
While most sides shrink when they fall behind here, Cork did the opposite.
Keating got the first goal back, converting Cian Bargary’s low cross to the front post.
And the Rebels went into half-time ahead, after Crowley struck a goal of the season contender to capitalise on a rare Mannus mistake.
Acting as a sweeper keeper, the veteran goalkeeper was outside his box when he inadvertently fired his clearance right into the path of Crowley in midfield.
The 23-year-old had a lot to do from over 45 yards but showed incredible technique to clip a wondrous strike over the head of a scrambling Mannus and into the net,.
🏌️♂️ FORE!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) March 6, 2023
Darragh Crowley puts Cork City in front with a sensational strike 🤩#LOI | #SHACOR pic.twitter.com/GWdnn1K21H
Stephen Bradley introduced Neil Farrugia at half-time, but it was Lee Grace who quickly drew the Hoops level – nodding Jack Byrne’s corner past Jimmy Corcoran in the Cork goal.
The scoreboard was level for just four minutes, before Custovic restored the visitor’s lead. The Swede reacted quickest to fire home Matt Healy’s free-kick after the ball bounced around the Rovers goalmouth.
Cork should really have wrapped up the night when Crowley scored his second of the night with 20 minutes left.
But Shamrock Rovers didn’t lie down, as they launched a tirade on the City defence. The goals always looked likely, as Corcoran pulled off a string of heroic saves.
And finally they did come, as Power and Hoare popped up in the box to claim a crucial late point for Stephen Bradley’s men.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Dan Cleary, Lee Grace, Gary O'Neill (Sean Hoare, 72); Darragh Nugent (Neil Farrugia, 46), Trevor Clarke; Markus Poom (Graeme Burke, 57), Dylan Watts (Richie Towell, 72), Jack Byrne; Johnny Kenny (Simon Power, 64), Rory Gaffney.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Darragh Crowley, Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist, Gordon Walker (Kevin Custovic, 38 (Jonas Hakkinen, 89)), Josh Honohan; Matt Healy, Aaron Bolger (Albin Winbo, 90); Cian Bargary, Daniel Krezic (Ethon Varian, 64); Ruairi Keating.
Referee: Rob Harvey
