THE point they saved at Turner's Cross yesterday was clearly a bonus for league leaders Bohemians, bout played for long periods in a terrific match by Cork City.

Bohemians finished strongly, recovering in style to match Cork for the closing half hour, underlining the strength of their title challenge. They went close to snatching a win in several classic counter attacking moves but were obviously delighted with a point.

"Overall we have to be satisfied with that result," said a relieved Bohemians manager Turlough O'Connor. "It was a huge game for Cork and they were under pressure to produce a result because they are seven points behind us. They are only the second team to hold us scoreless this season."

The point was well made but this was a Cork side playing with a commendable spirit of adventure. They played some delightful football, with the veteran Patsy Freyne exerting a huge influence from midfield.

Cork's manager Dave Barry has introduced a clutch of young local players this season and he must have been well satisfied with their impact, especially from the tall Noel Hartigan at centre back and Damian O'Connell at centre forward. These two, along with other youngsters like Brian Barry Murphy and Colin O'Brien, played with reassuring confidence.

In this context it was possibly significant that Cork's failure to score was linked to the fact that their best chances fell to John Caulfield. He has failed to score in the last six league matches for Cork - ever since he brought his career aggregate of championship goals to 99. His search for the significant extra goal has, perhaps, led to over anxiety.

Certainly, he missed the two best chances of the game. He fired a shot against an upright when Dave Henderson was caught out of his goal after just 19 minutes and he contrived to lift a shot over the bar from five yards early in the second half.

Bohemians created precious few chances in comparison and Barry could not hide his disappointment: "We have enough chances to win the game," he said. "We played very well against one of the better teams in the league and I have got to be happy with that. But Bohs came back late in the game and the longer it went the less secure I felt."