League Report: Cork City 3 - 1 Drogheda United

CORK City are top of the Airtricity League Premier Division after an action-packed 3-1 win over Drogheda United in an enthralling encounter at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.

The game was scoreless after an entertaining first half with Drogheda skipper Gavin Brennan missing a 21st minute penalty.

Liam Kearney gave City the lead just short of the hour with Carl Walshe equalising for Drogheda six minutes later before a Garry Buckley volley and a brilliant Billy Dennehy free-kick late on earned City the win in front of their jubilant home fans.

Another outstanding crowd of 4,420 were in attendance with over a hundred Drogeda fans making the trip from Louth.

Within seconds of the start City ‘keeper Mark McNulty was nearly caught out by a Brennan cross from the left with the dipping sun in his eyes but the ball was eventually hacked clear.

Declan O’Brien had the first clear-cut opportunity in the 12th minute after latching onto a chipped ball but McNulty managed to save with his feet.

Drogheda were packing the midfield and preventing City from playing their usual passing game with the absence of former Republic of Ireland international Colin Healy keenly felt in the Leesiders’ midfield.

With the home side struggling to get going, right full-back John Kavanagh decided to take matters into his own hands in the 16th minute with a rampaging run down the right beating both Brennan and Shane Grimes but his effort with the outside of his boot was just off target.

That got the home crowd going but Drogheda should have taken the lead in the 20th minute when McNulty brought down Brennan right in front of the Shed End. The winger stepped up to send the City ‘keeper the wrong way but wide of the left-hand post.

Cork centre-half Darren Dennehy had a header cleared off the line two minutes later with City’s main threat coming from set-pieces.

Drogheda winger Carl Walshe had two shots in quick succession around the 34 minute mark, the first was repelled by the Cork defence with the second too central and easily saved by McNulty.

Shortly after, Stephen Maher shot over with Drogheda dominating possession and looking the more likely to break the deadlock.

City were agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 38th minute when Kavanagh’s initial corner from the left was cleared but on the second attempt he curled a brilliant inswinging cross onto the head of Dan Murray. The centre-half’s header hit the crossbar and bounced down but was deemed not to have crossed the line and the game, somehow, remained scoreless. 

A driving run from Morrissey brought the City midfielder to the edge of the Drogheda box but his shot cannoned back off the head of centre-half Paul Andrews and referee Tomás Connelly blew for half-time shortly afterwards.

With his side losing the midfield battle, Cork manager John Caulfield brought midfielder Dave O’Leary on for striker Anthony Elding at the break and reverted to a 4-5-1 formation.  

The move almost paid off within three minutes of the interval as O’Leary cleverly released skipper Dunleavy down the left wing but his cross eluded everyone and rolled to safety.

City went ahead slightly against the run of play in the 57th minute after Morrissey’s crossfield ball found Garry Buckley and the midfielder had two efforts blocked before the ball fell for Kearney to slam City into the lead.

Billy Dennehy nearly carved Drogheda open again with a Gareth Bale-like run down the right but lone striker Mark O’Sullivan was unable to turn the ball home after Buckley’s initial effort. O’Sullivan headed narrowly over after more good play by Morrissey on the right flank moments later.

Drogheda deservedly equalised in the 63rd minute when Michael Daly, forward from right-back, drilled the ball across the box and it eventually fell for Carl Walshe and the winger calmly took a touch before tucking the ball into the bottom left corner.

The visitors nearly took the lead with a Brennan header at the back post that drifted wide with 20 minutes to go as the game remained firmly in the balance.

The vocal away support were in full voice at that stage but were silenced in the 76th minute when City took the lead for the second time. Billy Dennehy’s powerful left-footed shot from outside the area was only parried by Drogheda ‘keeper Dave Ryan, the ball bounced up and took an age to come down onto the boot of Buckley whose controlled volley flew into the top corner. 

The home crowd were baying for a red card in the 81st minute after Paul Andrews dragged down O’Sullivan on the edge of the box after Morrissey’s through ball but a yellow-card was deemed a sufficient punishment.

The decision left Cork manager John Caulfield shaking his head but he was soon shaking his fists in delight as Billy Dennehy curled the resulting free-kick into the far corner with a superb strike.

City captain Dunleavy cleared a late Drogheda header off the line with Billy Dennehy fizzing a late effort wide in the last act of a superb match.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Kavanagh, Darren Dennehy, Dan Murray, John Dunleavy (c); Liam Kearney (Darren Murphy 80), Gearóid Morrissey, Garry Buckley (Rob Lehane 88), Billy Dennehy; Anthony Elding (Dave O’Leary 46), Mark O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Matt Gledhill (gk), Colin Healy, Andy O’Connell, Kevin Mulcahy.

Bookings: McNulty (19).

Drogheda United: Dave Ryan; Michael Daly (Daire Doyle 85), Alan McNally, Paul Andrews, Shane Grimes; Carl Walshe, Ciarán McGuigan, Stephen Maher (Eric Foley 85), Gavin Brennan (c); Gary O’Neill (Phillip Hughes 85), Declan O’Brien.
Subs not used: Dylan Connolly, Paul Crowley, Cathal Brady, Gavan Holohan.

Bookings: D Ryan (33), G Brennan (67), Andrews (81).

Referee: Tomas Connolly

Attendance: 4,420

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Billy Dennehy (Cork City).