League Report: Drogheda United 1-1 Cork City
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Relegation threatened Drogheda United drew 1-1 with FAI Cup finalists Cork City in a relatively drab game in United Park on Friday evening allowing Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk side to regain the title in Tallaght, despite a 1-1 draw.
Ex-Irish international Keith Tracey opened the scoring for the home side, captain of the visitors for the evening Dan Murray gave the ball back to Mark McNulty, but the ex-Blackburn Rovers man nicked the ball from the goalkeepers toe and the ball found its way to the back of the net.
Cork levelled just moments later, when Gavan Holohan’s corner came back to him he hit a first time cross into the box which Karl Sheppard somehow forced into the back of ex- Mayo Minor Micheal Schlingermann’s net.
John Caulfield maybe has one eye on the cup final with Mark Kinsella wanting to keep the Drogs away from the dreaded relegation/promotion play off place.
Mark McNulty, who is normally so reliable between the sticks for The Leesiders made numerous poor clearances throughout the contest.
With Dundalk having won the league in Tallaght last night, Cork don’t have anything to play for other than second in their remaining league fixtures, whereas Drogheda, who are only 4 points ahead of Limerick of with very few games left to go have everything to play for in the battle for survival.
Drogheda United: Micheal Schlingermann; Lloyd Buckley, Alan Byrne, Robert O’Reilly, Joe Gorman; Adam Whelan (Tiarnan Mulvenna 76), Robert Bayly, Michael Daly, Mark Hughes, Keith Treacy (Bob Mc; Ger Pender (Lee Duffy 46).
Subs not used: Liam Donnelly, Sean Brennan, Sam McGowan, Mark O’Brien
Cork City: Mark McNulty; Michael McSweeney, Dan Murray, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor (Billy Dennehy 69); Stephen Beattie, Liam Miller, Gavan Holohan (John Dunleavy 88), Garry Buckley, Kevin O’Connor; Karl Sheppard (John O’Flynn 68).
Subs not used: Alan Bennett, Alan Smith, Stephen Folan, Liam Kearney.
Referee: Ray Matthews.
Attendance: 400 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Keith Tracey (Drogheda United).
