Updated 23.00
DROGHEDA UNITED TOOK control of their Setanta Sports Cup semi-final tie with in-form Sligo Rovers tonight.
The Co Louth side will head west with a 2-0 advantage thanks to first-half goals from Gary O’Neill and David Cassidy.
Elsewhere, it’s all to play for in this year’s second last-four clash after Shamrock Rovers and Cork City played out a rather tame 1-1 draw in front of a small crowd at Tallaght Stadium.
After dominating possession without any real intent, the Hoops’ breakthrough came seven minutes before the interval . Mark Quigley struck a low free kick which skirted the edge of the wall. It looked destined for goalkeeper Mark McNulty’s hands but spun off Danny Murphy’s outstretched boot and gave the keeper no chance.
Cork’s response was immediate and they were back on level terms within two minutes. Daryl Horgan found Daryl Kavanagh out wide on the left and he cut back inside before curling a fine strike inside Barry Murphy’s left post.
Though the game opened up slightly after the break neither side managed to carve out an advantage ahead of next Monday’s return leg in Turner’s Cross. Man-of-the-match Darren Dennehy went close for City shortly before the hour mark but his header from Colin Healy’s cross was deflected behind for a corner.
James Chambers had the best chance to steal the win deep into stoppage time but the Rovers midfielder couldn’t get clean enough contact on Karl Sheppard’s cross to turn it home from a couple of yards out.
In this evening’s Airtricity League Premier Division game, 10-man Limerick snatched a late winner against Bohemians to move up into seventh place.
Ryan McEvoy put Bohs ahead from the penalty spot after Patrick Nzuzi had been sent off 10 minutes into the second half but the Dubliners’ lead was shortlived as Shane Tracy hit back five minutes later.
The game looked set to end with honours even but Lims midfielder David O’Leary popped up in stoppage time to give Stuart Taylor’s men their second win of the campaign.
