Analysis: Cork City v Drogheda

In a dire game in front of nearly two and a half thousand bitterly cold supporters, Cork were on top for the majority of the game in this battle of the old examiners and new examiners and for long periods of the game it was a case of both sides cancelling each other out. The game looked destined to be a scoreless draw but the Leesiders had a couple of great chances to earn them the win.

Joe Gamble was his usual self, spraying the ball around the park. Every decent move City made going forward was started off from the feet of Gamble.The midfielder even had a couple of shots on goal, a rarity for the twice capped Irish International. Darren Murphy, who has been impressive since becoming a full-time fixture in the centre of the park since Colin Healy’s should injury in September, also hassled Ristila and Keegan in midfield throughout the 90 minutes.

Timmy Kiely tried hard before been taken off but the hero of last Tuesday had a tough time against former Cork player Ollie Cahill. Up front Lawrie Dudfield and Alan O’Connor didn’t do much but the home side did improve when Behan replaced the aforementioned Kiely and O’Connor then moved back to his orthodox position on the right wing.

Drogheda, without 8 players, looked shaky in defence on a couple of occasions, particularly goalkeeper Jamie Ewings. The keeper who played poorly in the defeat to Glentoran last Monday, was lucky on a couple of occasions. Doolin also gave Michael Clarke his league debut at right-back, the 19-year old who only signed a professional contract recently after a spell in the U-17 side put in a solid performance against Darragh Ryan.

Shane Robinson was the standout performer for the away team while the strike partnership of Eamon Zayed and Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien, which was so impressive last season as the Drogs ran away with the league, weren’t given much service and neither had any chances of note. At one stage the Cork area was akin to a pinball machine as nobody could clear the danger. That was the only thing of substance from Drogheda near the goalmouth though as this tepid affair died out.

This game was definitely not one to be remembered.