Just like last March Waterford United put a severe dent in Cork City's championship hopes at Turner's Cross yesterday.

Former Cobh Ramblers goalkeeper Michael Devine emerged as man of the match for Waterford with a string of superb saves to deny Cork the win they desperately needed.

Cork have now won just two points from a possible 12 and this is far from championship winning form.

Cork had Irish under-21 player Derek Coughlan back in the team for the first time in eight months after a cruciate knee ligament injury and he was denied a match winning goal in added time when he saw his headed effort from Ollie Cahill's cross come back off the crossbar. Colm O'Brien drove the rebound over the bar in what was Cork's last chance to win the points.

Waterford who defended in numbers from the kick-off fully deserved their point but they have to thank goalkeeper Devine for this result. Devine was in action as early as the third minute when he saved a Liam O'Brien 25-yard shot and he flipped a Mark Herrick volley over 10 minutes before half-time to keep the game scoreless at the break.

Devine was at his best midway through the second half. He denied substitute Noel Hartigan a goal with his first touch from a Dave Hill free-kick and 10 minutes from time he produced another fine save to deny Colm O'Brien.

Cork who lost midfielder Liam O'Brien with a hamstring injury just before time made three changes during the second half as they tried their utmost to win at home but Waterford, who relied on solid defence and the pace of Alan Kirby on the counter-attack, fully deserved their share of the points.

CORK CITY: Harrington; Napier, Coughlan, Daly, Cronin; Herrick, Hill, L O'Brien, Cahill; Morley, Caulfield. Subs: C O'Brien, for L O'Brien (half- time). O'Halloran for Napier (52 mins). Hartigan for Caulfield (61 mins).

WATERFORD UNITED: Devine; Smith, McGrath, Riordan, Frost; Stirling, Griffin, Reynolds, McGrath; Kirby, Markey.

Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin)