DROGHEDA UNITED 1
CORK CITY 2
CORK CITY EARNED another away win as they saw off Drogheda United 2-1 at United Park but it was hardly champagne stuff as they were made to sweat late on by the Premier Division strugglers.
While the Dublin media were distracted by two big games in the capital, Cork City’s away-day strengths were put to the test by Drogheda by the Boyne.
Having failed to score more than one goal in three previous away games this term, it took John Caulfield’s men just two first-half minutes to do so against their hosts. Billy Dennehy and Kieran Djilali struck early on to hand Cork a commanding lead.
First, Ross Gaynor’s pinpoint left-wing cross was met by an unmarked Dennehy to head past Schlingermann to put the Leesiders in front after 17 minutes. Just under two minutes later, that lead had been doubled.
From a Dennehy corner, Drogs defender Mick Daly failed to properly clear and the ball found its way to the back post where former Crystal Palace winger Djilali was on hand to help the ball over the line. What the forward knew about the ball is another matter, as he span away as much in disbelief as in celebration.
Given the fact they were searching for their seventh straight clean sheet — and with Drogheda struggling in front of goal of late — the lead seemed an unassailable one.
But youngster Lloyd Buckley, in the team in place of the injured Neil Yadolahi, headed home on 77 minutes to hand Johnny McDonnell’s side a lifeline.
The goal caused a stir among the Cork defence and no shortage of hope sprang from the United Park stands. Despite Cathal Brady, Carl Walshe and Daryl Kavanagh going close late on, Cork held out for a win that sees them leapfrog Bohemians into second.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Micheal Schlingermann, Mick Daly, Alan Byrne, Lloyd Buckley, Joe Gorman, Sean Thornton, Sean Brennan (Tiernan Mulvenna, 82), Stephen Maher (Mark Hughes, 73), Carl Walshe (Jason Marks, 80), Cathal Brady, Daryl Kavanagh.
Substitutes: Evan Farrell, Robert O’Reilly, Michael Scott, Sam McGowan.
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty, John Kavanagh, Alan Bennett, Darren Dennehy, Ross Gaynor, John Dunleavy, Kieran Djilali (Gavan Holohan, 75), Liam Miller, Billy Dennehy, Garry Buckley, Mark O’Sullivan.
Substitutes: Alan Smith, Colin Healy, Danny Morrissey, Rob Lehane, Liam Kearney.
REFEREE: David McKeon
Man-of-the-match: Billy Dennehy.
Division One results:
Athlone Town 2-2 Cabinteely FC
UCD 3-0 Waterford United