Cork City - 1 Derry City - 1:National League: Cork City were forced to settle for a point despite a high-powered performance against Derry City at Turner's Cross last night, when they needed a second-half equaliser to deny the visitors.

Derry were fully occupied in defence for most of the game but did it with such determination and in such numbers that Cork needed a rare goal from midfielder Conor O'Grady to salvage a point. He scored with a powerful shot from 30 yards to cancel out a first-half goal from a free by Gary Beckett.

Derry had reason to be thankful for the good form of new signing Wayne Russell who was signed in midweek from Kildare County. Russell, who was voted the outstanding goalkeeper in the first division with Waterford last season, was constantly in action before he was eventually forced off with an injury in the 79th minute.

Twice he saved well from George O'Callaghan in the first half, holding his powerful shot from 18 yards in the 13th minute and soon after diving bravely at the centre-forward's feet. It was in this incident he injured his leg, and although he played on, the constant Cork pressure in the second half took its toll.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Woods; Doyle, CT O'Brien, O'Grady, Casey; O'Flynn, O'Callaghan.

DERRY CITY: Russell (Gough 79); Hutton, McLaughlin, McCrystal, McCallion; McGlynn (Dixon 59), Doherty, Martyn, Hargan; Holt (Moran 75), Beckett.

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).