Cork City 2
Drogheda United 1
THERE MIGHT HAVE been some nervy final few minutes in the wake of Drogheda United pressure, but Cork City held on at Turner’s Cross tonight to move level on points with Dundalk at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table.
Having built a lead through captain John Dunleavy and Mark O’Sullivan, City looked certain to take the three points, but an 81st-minute goal from Drogheda sub Declan O’Brien gave the visitors hopes of taking something from the game.
Ultimately, John Caulfield’s side held out to move to 66 points, albeit with a game more played than the Lilywhites, who had been hoping their Louth neighbours would do them a favour.
Dunleavy, who signed a new contract this week, opened the scoring with a sweeping finish from John O’Flynn’s low cross in the 14th minute, and though the home side didn’t look like adding to that tally in the remainder of the first half, neither did Dundalk threaten an equaliser.
Less than two minutes after the restart, John Kavanagh’s clearance was misjudged by Ciarán McGuigan, allowing O’Sullivan to gather possession. He held off Alan McNally well and then finished superbly past Michael Schlingermann.
Further chances came for City but were not taken, but when Drogheda’s Gavin Brennan was red-carded with 14 minutes left, their hopes seemed to disappear. Sub O’Brien reignited their ambitions with a smart finish, but though the Cork defending was frantic at times, the points were theirs.
CORK CITY: McNulty; J Kavanagh, Murray, D Dennehy, Gaynor; O’Leary (McSweeney 86), Dunleavy; O’Flynn (O’Shea 62), Buckley, B Dennehy (Lehane 90); O’Sullivan.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Schlingermann; Doyle, McNally, McGuigan, Grimes; Brady (Wixted 60), Daly, Holohan (Andrews 85), Maher (O’Brien 67), Walshe; Brennan.
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
