Cork City reserve goalkeeper Alan O'Shea stood between Bohemians and a place at the top of the Premier Division table at Turner's Cross on Saturday. In dreadful conditions, he defied the best efforts of the visitors with a string of brilliant saves.

The gale force winds and lashing rain made a mockery of what should have been City's biggest league match of the season. Instead the crowds stayed away and the football became a bit of a lottery. In the circumstances the two sides acquitted themselves fairly well in a tough uncompromising contest.

The visitors decided to play with the wind in the first half consequently all the action was compressed into the home side's half of the pitch. Pat Morley did force Bohemians goalkeeper Wayne Russell into an excellent save early on but there after it was O'Shea warming his hands for most of the first period.

Glen Crowe, Simon Webb and Crowe again tested O'Shea's mettle in the first 32 minutes before Fergus O'Donoghue tested Russell with a cross-cum-shot just before the break.

The elements favoured Cork in the second period but they were unable to breach the visitor's defence and O'Shea was called upon once more before the end to deprive Crowe yet again. Russell's vigilance ensured that the spoils were shared.

Cork City's manager Derek Mountfield said afterwards: "Young Alan O'Shea has certainly set me a nice poser for next week's game. He was outstanding today. He made some great saves and he certainly justified my faith in him. It will certainly be difficult for me to drop him next weekend."

Cork now face trips to Longford and Derry City.

Cork City: O'Shea; O'Halloran, Daly, Napier, O'Donghue, Moore, Gaughan, Herrick, Cahill, Morley, Mulligan. Subs: Caulfield for Moore (62 mins), Tynan for Mulligan (70 mins).

Bohemians: Russell; O'Connor, Maher, Hill, Webb, Hopper, Hunt, Caffery, Molloy, Crowe, O'Neill. Subs: O'Keeffe for O'Neill (51 mins), Markey for Molloy (90 mins).

Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).