Drogheda United 1 - 1 Cork City

Cork City once again failed to hold on to a lead as an 87th minute Declan O’Brien penalty for Drogheda United saw the sides split the points at a Baltic and breezy Hunky Dorys Park.

Mick Cooke made four changes to the side which drew with Dundalk last Thursday, Gavin Brennan was dropped to the bench as Derek Prendergast and Gary O’Neill made welcome returns to the starting XI.

Cork City remained without Dan Murray while Kalen Spillane started in his place and Denis Behan was handed a starting berth at the expense of Daryl Kavanagh.

Drogheda looked to have carried their good form from Thursday night into the game as they started the brighter, but their first clear chance didn’t come until 15 minutes in. Ryan Brennan showed some nice skills on the left wing before pulling the ball back to Graham Rusk and the former UCD player stabbed the ball toward goal and saw it float up and hit the upright before bouncing over.

Chances were at a premium for both sides, Eric Foley attempted a long range effort before Denis Behan saw a shot come back off the post, however the whistle had gone as he was adjudged to have pushed Brian Gannon.

The battle between Gannon and Behan was a lively one as the experienced Cork striker tried to outmuscle the Drogheda defender.

Gearoid Morrissey almost broke the deadlock as he rifled a shot from long range which went marginally wide.

Just after the half-hour mark and very much against the run of play Cork took the lead. As another Drogheda attack broke down Cork were allowed break and the Shane Duggan gained possession and fired a shot which Shane Grimes blocked only for Duggan to fire the rebound into the far corner out of the reach of the diving Sava. It was a strike reminiscent of Jason Byrne’s opener for Bray in Drogheda’s last home game.

The Leesiders could have doubled their lead just before the break. Garry Buckley was introduced for the injured Kevin Murray and he popped up at the far post but headed just over.

Gavin Brennan was introduced during the interval for Drogheda in place of Graham Rusk and he almost made an immediate mark. His first touch won a corner and then he attempted to latch onto Foley’s in-swinger but was outmuscled by the Cork defence.

The Boynesiders should have had a penalty on 53 minutes when John Dunleavy handled a Gavin Brennan shot which came back off Cork ‘keeper Mark McNuly, but Neil Doyle didn’t even acknowledge the foul.

With 20 minutes to go, Mick Cooke made a double substitution, bringing on Declan O’Brien and Peter Hynes and moved to the more traditional 4-4-2 in an attempt to force an equalizer.

But it was Cork who looked like they were going to claim all three points, a poor downfield kick from Sava picked out the Cork midfielder, Gearoid Morrisset, in acres of space and he ran at goal and dodged a few tackles before letting fly and lucky for Drogheda he struck the ball with the outside of his foot and it drifted wide.

With three minutes remaining a long ball into the box was flicked on by Hynes and Garry Bukley handled, but this time Neil Doyle called for the foul and Declan O’Brien had no hesitation in stepping up to convert. His third goal from five penalties this season and one which secured a vital point for Drogheda United.

Drogheda United: Gabriel Sava; Stephen Quigley, Brian Gannon, Derek Prendergast, Shane Grimes; David Cassidy, Paul O’Conor, Eric Foley (Peter Hynes 69), Ryan Brennan; Graham Rusk (Gavin Brennan 46), Gary O’Neill (Declan O’Brien 69).
Subs not used: Philip Hand, Alan McNally, Dean Gaynor, Jason Marks.

Bookings: Eric Foley, Gavin Brennan

Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Kevin Murray (Garry Buckley 25), Kalen Spillane, Danny Murphy; Gearoid Morrissey, Colin Healy, Shane Duggan, Adam Rundle (Ian Turner 58); Denis Behan, Danny Furlong (Daryl Kavanagh 90+3).
Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Danny Morrissey, Daryl Horgan.

Bookings: Denis Behan, Ian Turner

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 465

Extratime Man of the Match: Shane Duggan (Cork City).