Champions Shamrock Rovers were pushed all the way in their well-earned 2-1 win over Cork City thanks to goals from Graham Burke and Liam Burt either side of Barry Coffey's free-kick to seal their first win over the Rebel Army this season.
With Dublin rivals Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic closing the gap with their victories on Friday night, the pressure was on Stephen Bradley’s troops to get all three points in what looks a thrilling title race on the horizon.
It took until 20th minute in for the real first chance at goal when skipper Ronan Finn’s low cross fell kindly into the path of Graham Burke, whose side-footed strike came back off the foot of the post, with some of the home faithful thinking it was in.
Man of the match Burt was next to go close having been slipped in by Johnny Kenny’s clever touch around the corner, but was sharply denied by Oliver Byrne.
Goalscoring had been a problem for the Hoops in recent weeks - with their last goal from open play coming back on 26 June when Rory Gaffney notched the winner against Derry City - but the pressure finally told just before the half hour mark when Burke showed quick feet to fashion a yard of space before hitting a rare right-footed effort into the far corner from 25 yards out.
To their credit, the visitors who didn’t let the heads drop from the setback and, following Finn’s foul on ex-Hoops man Aaron Bolger, got themselves level moments later. Coffey’s beautifully struck free-kick flew into the net.
Rovers flew out of the traps and got back in front four minutes in through an amazing solo effort from the pacey Burt who dropped the shoulder, selling two City defenders before sweeping home for his first goal for the Hoops in his first league start.
Just after the hour mark, the deadly duo of Burke and Burt combined well again before the latter was caught by Joshua Honohan. Up stepped Burke from 20 yards out but was brilliantly denied by Byrne who reacted incredibly well to get down low and to push the ball to safety.
Byrne was called into action again moments later to deny Markus Poom at the near post with a strong hand.
With the visitors pushing for an equaliser, and the introduction of new signing Ben Worman, Cork forced some nervy moments as the game drew to a close, but it was Rovers who defended resolutely, showing their experience and should have added to their tally at the death as Gaffney overhit a square ball to fellow substitute Aaron Greene who had the goal at their mercy much to the disbelief of the 3,419 in attendance.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus, Ronan Finn (Darragh Nugent 78), Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary, Gary O'Neill, Sean Kavanagh, Dylan Watts (Richie Towell 65), Markus Poom, Liam Burt (Aaron Greene 87), Graham Burke, Johnny Kenny (Rory Gaffney 65).
Cork City: Oliver Byrne, Conor Drinan, Joshua Honohan, Cian Coleman, Kevin Custovic, Jaze Kabia (Joshua Fitzpatrick 72), Aaron Bolger, Barry Coffey, Rokas Stanulevicius (Benjamin Worman 78), Cian Bargary, Tunde Owolabi.
