Cork City - 1 Drogheda Utd - 0: Cork City showed the form of champions as they regained top spot with a smooth performance at Turner's Cross last night
A goal from John O'Flynn separated the teams at the end and, in truth, there was little between then as is usual. But Cork enjoyed an edge, their dominance of the play only challenged when Drogheda opened the second half impressively.
Cork used the opening half to establish their superiority for they opened very smartly and deserved their lead in the 30th minute. It followed a marvellous run out of defence by team captain Dan Murray who carried the ball deep into Drogheda's half against a retreating defence and then cleverly beat a tackle to face Drogheda's back four.
O'Flynn peeled away cleverly from his marker and when Murray turned the ball accurately into his path he was clear on goal. Goalkeeper Dan Connor raced off his goal-line but O'Flynn stepped wide of his attempted tackle and rolled the ball home.
Cork goalkeeper Michael Devine had to be at his best to deny Drogheda an equaliser in the 39th minute. Glen Fitzpatrick was unmarked outside the far upright when he met a cross from Shane Robinson with his in-step just a couple of yards out from goal but Devine somehow parried the shot.
Drogheda should have equalised in the 56th minute after Declan O'Brien raced in on goal but an alert Joe Gamble made an excellent tackle.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Woods; O'Donovan (Softic 90), O'Brien, O'Callaghan, Gamble; Fenn (Behan 75), O'Flynn.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Shelly, Gavin, Gray, Webb; Robinson, Bradley (Lynch 65), Whelan, Fahey; Fitzpatrick (Barrett 62), O'Brien (Leech 82).
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).
