Cork City required Ruairí Keating's stoppage-time winner to get Barry Robson’s tenure, and their First Division return, off to a winning start against Treaty United in front of 3,520 fans at Turner’s Cross.
The former Aberdeen manager could field a relatively settled side, featuring seven of last year’s FAI Cup final team, but they were largely frustrated by a Treaty side who created their share of chances.
Just as it looked like the Shannonsiders would claim a fifth successive draw against their Munster rivals, City struck. Sixteen-year-old debutant Cillian Murphy slipped Hans Mpongo down the left wing. The former Finn Harps attacker drove into the box before squaring for Keating to fire a shot which hit the post and the luckless keeper en route to the net.
Coming shortly after a banner protesting majority owner Dermot Usher and chants of 'We want Usher out’ broke out from the Shed End on 85 minutes, the late strike sent the home support home in better spirits.
While City gave Mpongo a debut, Tommy Barrett started newcomers in Canadian recruit Raphael Ohin, Jack Brady, Steven Healy, Cian Curtis, and Ben Feeney.
The visitors had the better of proceedings with a couple of early chances. The best of those came when Rory Feely miscued a route-one clearance. Roy Lawlor raced in on goal, but fired at Conor Brann.
Keating had City’s first shot on target before Mpongo couldn’t quite reach a dangerous Josh Fitzpatrick cross.
Feeney came closest of all after a brilliant run from the right flank to the edge of the box. He dragged his shot back across the goal and onto the outside of the post. Then, from a short corner routine, Healy’s dinked cross was glanced off target by Feeney.
Scoreless at half-time, Treaty resumed with Ohin flashing wide, but City began to threaten more from there.
Mpongo had three shots in quick succession. The third of those was deflected into Keating’s path, but he pulled his effort across goal and Maguire couldn’t divert it home.
Brady was put to work by a long-range Feely strike in the 65th minute. The keeper was called into action again after Greg Bolger’s ball over the top unlocked the defence. Maguire’s instinctive effort was well clawed away by the Tipperary stopper.
However, Brady was out of luck as Keating found the winner in stoppage time from close range.
Cork City: Conor Brann; Rory Feely (Matthew Murray 80), Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Lyons; Josh Fitzpatrick, Darragh Crowley, Greg Bolger, Conor Drinan (Cillian Murphy 59); Seani Maguire, Hans Mpongo (Matthew Kiernan 90+3); Ruairí Keating.
Treaty United: Jack Brady; Robbie Lynch, Mark Walsh, Darren Nwankwo, Ben Lynch; Mark Murphy, Raphael Ohin, Steven Healy, Roy Lawlor (Brian Cunningham 62); Cian Curtis (Jason Folarin-Oyenuga 81), Ben Feeney.
Referee: Daniel Murphy (Dublin)
It's Wexford who end the night top of the second tier after their 3-0 win over Cobh Ramblers.
Ryan Ritchie put them ahead after a bright start for the hosts, and it was two on the stroke of half time as Max Murphy stroked home a penalty.
Jake Doyle made things safe just after the restart, the former UCD man finishing well past Corey Chambers
It's Doyle's former club who are third after the Students came from behind to beat Kerry 2-1 at the Bowl.
An own goal sent the visitors in ahead at the break but Carl Lennox drew the hosts level at Belfield, after Matthew Connor midjudged a free-kick.
The turnaround was complete as Ciarán Behan chipped Connor from a narrow angle, with Hugh Smith making sure the ball ended up in the net.
College did finish the game with 10 men after Adam Wells was shown two late yellow cards.
Like UCD, Athlone recorded a 2-1, comeback victory, getting the better of Finn Harps at Lissywoollen.
Harps went ahead with a lovely goal as Temi Ajibola capitalised on some indecision in the Town defence to poke home.
Athlone's equaliser had a bit of luck about it as Peter Grogan's header came back off the post, only to hit Corey Sheridan and end up in the net.
And the scoring was complete just after the half hour as Idir Zerrouk helped the ball into his own net. Harps' misery was complete when Daniel de Lacerda was sent off in the second half.
While Longford battled for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Bray at the Carlisle Grounds.
Richard Ferizaj finished from close range off a cross from Billy O'Neill, but Dean George got the equaliser for the midlanders shortly after half-time.
