The first Cork derby of the season between Cobh Ramblers and Cork City finished as a 1-1 draw with a second-half Rhys Gourdie penalty cancelling out an early Sean Maguire goal in front of a sold out crowd at St Colman's Park.
It was a full-blooded encounter between two rivals separated by a half-hour drive, and it came down to a goalmouth scramble as the visitors to the Great Island chased a winner.
The Ramblers cleared their lines and took a point off a City side that has started the campaign with three successive victories and a run to the semi-finals of the Munster Senior Cup.
It looked like that was set to continue early on as Ruairi Keating shot wide at the near post and Cillian Murphy saw a header go straight into the hands of Corey Chambers.
The Ramblers held firm during these exchanges but their resistance was broken by Maguire’s near post header in the 11th minute. It was a deserved reward, something that was met by Cobh’s first real advance.
Rhys Brennan and Gourdie drove this from midfield, setting up the likes of Garry Buckley for a series of off balance shots inside the area.
The Rebel Army stood firm, with Fiacre Kelleher running the show in defence until he was forced off with a head injury in the 37th minute.
Harry Nevin slotted in seamlessly as the visitors went into the break without conceding a shot on target.
Then came a Charlie Lyons foul on Cian Coleman in the 55th minute as the defender tried picking up the second ball from a corner. A penalty was awarded and slotted in by Gourdie, who sent Conor Brann the wrong way beside the home supporters.
This re-energised Cobh pushed on with a Wilson Waweru shot at the near post pushed out by the City goalkeeper.
The Rebel Army cleared to Maguire for a pass to Hans Mpongo, but his breakaway strike went over the bar,
Cork pushed for a winner late on. Keating had an effort scrambled away on the goal-line during this spell and Murphy saw a low strike blocked down.
The big finish came during the six minutes of injury time as Cobh scrambled and stretched to stop their city rivals from getting a winner.
Elsewhere in the First Division, Bray Wanderers claimed their second win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Athlone Town in the Carlisle Grounds.
The Seagulls had to come from behind to take the points with Patrick Ferry opening the scoring for Athlone in the second half. However, goals from Tyreik Sammy and Alain Kizenga in the space of five minutes saw Bray move up to third in the table.
Finn Harps and Wexford FC played out a 1-1 draw in Ballybofey.
Both goals came from headers with Liam Doyle nodding Wexford in front after just eight minutes but Daniel de Lacerda's close-range header on 64 minutes was enough for a point.
It was also honours even in the Munster derby where Treaty United and Kerry played out an exciting 2-2 draw.
Ewan Lee gave Kerry the lead early in the first half as he took advantage of some lax defending, finding himself unmarked at the back post from a freekick to fire home.
Cian Curtis levelled it up on 66 minutes before Cian Murphy put Treaty back in front four minutes later. The visitors looked to be on their way to three points and derby bragging rights but Curtis converted from the penalty spot in injury time to save a point for Kerry.
Cobh Ramblers: Corey Chambers; Luka Le Bervet (Lucas Curtin 75), Cian Coleman, Garry Buckley, Shane Griffin; Jason Abbott, Mikey Carroll (Brendean Frahill 90), Oran Crowe (Anthony Adenopo 75), Rhys Brennan (Callum Honohan 65), Rhys Gourdie; Wilson Waweru (Rhys Kelly Noonan 90).
Cork City: Conor Brann; Rory Feely, Fiacre Kelleher (Harry Nevin 37), Charlie Lyons; Joshua Fitzpatrick (Conor Drinan 53), Greg Bolger, Darragh Crowley, Hans Mpongo; Cillian Murphy, Sean Maguire, Ruairi Keating.
Referee: Declan Toland.
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