Dundalk's stubborn defence frustrated Cork City at Turner's Cross, yesterday, to virtually ruin their remaining hopes of figuring in the championship race.

Cork's inability to turn their first half superiority into goals was a huge drawback and their disappointment was obvious as their football suffered in the second half.

They needed a convincing win if they were to reignite their challenge for a championship title that now, more than ever, appears a two-horse race.

In truth, Cork were never convincing, even if they caused Dundalk many problems in the high-powered opening spell.

Twice they succeeded in getting past Dundalk's outstanding goalkeeper, Steve Williams, in the first half; but each time defenders came to his rescue, Paul Carlyle clearing off the goal-line from Derek Coughlan and Dave Hoey doing likewise from a John Caulfield shot. Otherwise, Williams was equal to every challenge posed by Cork and he made two crucial saves in the second half.

Williams remained defiant to the end, saving first from Jason Kabia and later from Caulfield, as Cork wasted their scoring opportunities.

Dundalk themselves struggled to make an impact up front, despite a good performance from Mick Doohan, who is normally a centre back. Despite Doohan's best efforts Dundalk remained scoreless for a sixth consecutive match.

Afterwards, Cork manager Dave Barry commented: "We had sufficient chances in the first half to win the game when we got in behind the defence several times. It was disappointing not to win; but I'd be more upset if we hadn't created a number of scoring chances".