Cork City equalised three minutes from the end of a splendid match to cap a spirited secondhalf comeback at Turner's Cross yesterday. A Kelvin Flanagan cross was headed against the Bohemians crossbar by Ollie Cahill and Cork full back Stephen Napier launched himself at the rebound to head a spectacular goal.

Cork had to use all three of their substitutes to replace the injured Declan Daly, Colin O'Brien and Derek Coughlan, before the second half started.

While they struggled to overcome the upsets of the first half Bohemians made the running and would surely have made the points secure but for the outstanding goalkeeping of Noel Mooney.

He made three important saves in the first five minutes, advancing bravely to deny Peter Hanrahan twice and Tony O'Connor.

Hanrahan finally beat him after 16 minutes but centre half Coughlan came to the rescue clearing off the line and in the circumstances Cork did extremely well to keep the game scoreless to half-time.

Indeed they had grounds for complaint after 30 minutes when centre forward Jason Kabia was pushed to the ground by Sean Maher in an incident that seemed a certain penalty but referee Michael Tomney awarded the free from the edge of the penalty area.

"Everybody else in the ground reckoned it had to be a penalty except for the referee and linesman," said Cork's manager, Dave Barry.

Bohemians' pressure finally paid off 17 minutes into the second half a corner from Tommy Byrne was headed clear by Gareth Cronin but when James Coll returned the ball quickly Paul Doolin was given the opportunity of scoring from six yards.