Cork City 5
Drogheda United 0
Denis Hurley reports from Turner’s Cross
IT WAS A return to business as usual for Cork City, who outclassed Drogheda United at Turner’s Cross.
Having drawn 1-1 with Galway United in their previous game, John Caulfield’s side were in no mood to allow a mini-slump set in and the destination of the three points was absolutely never in doubt.
They were ahead inside 11 minutes, Stephen Dooley’s pass allowing Jimmy Keohane to finish smartly, and top scorer Sean Maguire doubled the lead on 20, flicking home John Dunleavy’s cross at the near post.
Within six more minutes, they were 4-0 head as winger Karl Sheppard helped himself to a brace. The first came after Dunleavy’s pass allowed him to surge into the area and fire home and if that showed panache, the second highlighted his finesse, with a lovely chip over Stephen McGuinness after Maguire’s pass.
Maguire went close before half-time and twice immediately after, denied by a good McGuinness save and then heading wide, but just before the hour he struck again, a low shot after linking well with Dooley in the area.
From there to the end, it was a procession in front of 3,844, and City had more chances to extend the lead, a combination of poor shooting and strong goalkeeping denying them.
Even still, they were never anything less than comfortable and could even afford to finish with 10 men after Garry Buckley was withdrawn as a precaution with all three subs used.
Cork City: Mark McNulty; John Dunleavy, Alan Bennett (Shane Griffin, 54), Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Greg Bolger, Jimmy Keohane; Karl Sheppard (Connor Ellis, 62), Garry Buckley, Stephen Dooley (Achille Campion, 66); Seán Maguire.
Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Shane Elworthy (Stephen Dunne, HT), Luke Gallagher, Ciarán McGuigan, Conor Kane; Killian Brennan, Richard Purdy (Seán Thornton, 42); Adam Wixted, Jake Hyland (Seán Brennan, 74), Gavin Brennan; Mark Griffin.
Referee: Sean Grant.
