League Report: Drogheda United 0 - 1 Cork City

Cork City are three points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table after they defeated Drogheda United 1-0 at United Park.

Garry Buckley got the winner with only nine minutes remaining as City rode their luck against a competitive Drogheda outfit.

Drogheda caretaker manager Darius Kierans named an unchanged side from last Friday’s victory over Bray Wanderers while Cork make three from the scoreless draw away to Sligo as Dave O'Leary, Gavin Kavanagh and Josh O'Shea all started.

The home side almost opened up the Leesiders defence after two minutes as Gary O’Neill’s flick on released Gavin Brennan down the left but the winger’s cross was blocked behind by Gavin Kavanagh.

City were to carry the more attacking threat in the early stages and they came close to taking the lead on 15 minutes as a speculative half-volley from Darren Dennehy from all of 35 yards had Micheál Schlingermann worried.

The Drogheda keeper was in fine form throughout and he produced a stunning fingertip save to keep the game on level terms as Mark O’Sullivan’s header looked destined for the back of the net from John O’Shea’s cross.

A mishit cross Darren Dennehy tested Schlingermann once again and United counter-attacked with pace as Shane Grimes crossed for Brennan but the midfielder’s shot was beaten away by Mark McNulty.

The same two were to clash again as Brennan’s downward header from Cathal Brady’s cross was weld held by the Cork number one as the home side went into the interval the stronger.

O’Shea, who switched to the right wing in the second half, squandered the best chance of the game as he latched onto the end of Billy Dennehy’s pass but ballooned the ball over from ten yards.

After that missed chance for City, Drogheda were to embark on a 15 minute spell in which they had the visitors on the ropes. Firstly, a long ball down the right was well controlled by Brady and he beat two Cork defenders before being denied by a last ditch tackle from Brian Lenihan.

Ten minutes later, the ball was worked to Gavan Holohan on the edge of the box and the midfielder hit a powerful drive that cannoned back off the crossbar before being headed away from danger.

Cork manager John Caulfield made three quick substitutions with Liam Kearney, Cillian Morrison and John O’Flynn all coming into the game as City regained control.

They eventually broke the deadlock on 81 minutes as Drogheda failed to clear a long ball into the box and Buckley swiveled and volleyed across Schlingermann to give Cork a precious lead.

United pushed for an equaliser in the dying stages of the game and the home fans were left frustrated as Drogheda had a goal ruled out due to an infringement by substitute Declan O’Brien on McNulty.

The victory leaves the Leesiders top of the league ahead of Dundalk’s clash with Shamrock Rovers on Sunday while Drogheda will have to wait a fortnight to get this result out of their system.

Drogheda United: Micheál Schlingermann; Daire Doyle, Michael Daly, Alan McNally, Shane Grimes; Cathal Brady (Sean O’Connor 74), Stephen Maher, Gavan Holohan, Carl Walshe; Gavin Brennan; Gary O’Neill (Declan O’Brien 74).
Subs not used: Dylan Connolly, Paul Crowley, Dale Harding, Ciaran O’Connor, Fionn Reilly.

Booked: Stephen Maher (59), Gavan Holohan (82) Michael Daly (90 ± 2)

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Brian Lenihan, Darren Dennehy, Garry Buckley, John Dunleavy; Billy Dennehy, Dave O’Leary (John O’Flynn 67), Colin Healy, Gavin Kavanagh (Liam Kearney 52), Josh O’Shea (Cillian Morrison 59); Mark O’Sullivan.
Subs not used: Kevin O’Brien, Michael McSweeney, Danny Morrissey, John Kavanagh.

Booked: Cillian Morrison (86)

Referee: Robert Rogers

Attendance: 688

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gavan Holohan (Drogheda United)