Cork City 0 Drogheda United 1 (after extra-time): Like a tumbling stone on a mountainside, Drogheda United's resurgence continues to gather momentum.
Just five months after their FAI Cup success, Paul Doolin's side, who not so long ago were languishing in the bowels of the First Division added the Setanta Sports Cup to their sparse trophy cabinet, signaling in the process that their recent upturn in fortunes is, indeed, no flash in the pan.
That FAI Cup success, also over Cork City, signaled a turning point for the club and while last night's success compounds the fact they are now significant players in the domestic game, Drogheda, despite being four points clear in the Premier Division, must still convince many they have the confidence and drive to produce the goods over an prolonged league campaign.
They could also become victims of their own success but, as Doolin readily alludes to, the transition from a part-time to professional outfit takes time. His youthful squad is littered with talent and once these players mature and reach full potential then perhaps league titles and annual European adventure will become reality rather than fantasy.
Keen to avenge the two group stage defeats to their opponents, Drogheda started impressively and dictated both pace and direction in the opening stages. The tenacity with which they played stunned Cork who were rocked back on their heels and forced to take a backseat. Confident enough to stroke the ball around cleanly, Drogheda probed impressively and found the right flank a particularly profitable passage of attack.
Defender Brian Shelley and winger Shane Robinson were well in tune with each other and the duo linked impressively with striker Glen Fitzpatrick who, time and again, dropped deep. Indeed, after just four minutes, Fitzpatrick teased in a cross which flummoxed the Cork defence but Paul Keegan's header, from close range, was somehow bundled to safety by defender Alan Bennett.
Sensing that the Cork defence might not be quite watertight, Drogheda continued to surge forward with Fitzpatrick proving their tormentor in chief. His fondness to peel off his marker afforded both time and space and when he again crossed for Keegan, the midfielder fluffed his header at goal when James Keddy, who himself had created space in the box, was better positioned.
The pace with which the Drogheda midfield harried their opponents was most impressive but Cork were still inventive with the limited possession they had. In fact, both their scoring opportunities in the first half could, and probably should, have edged them ahead against the run of play.
First, Denis Behan headed a Danny Murphy cross into Roy O'Donovan's path and the winger, who had cut an impressive angle off the flank, forced Dan Connor into a point blank save but his attempted follow-up was bravely gathered by the goalkeeper.
Soon after, Behan again provided, this time for George O'Callaghan, but the midfielder, who passed a late fitness test, side-footed the ball off the post from six yards when a more powerful shot would have reaped rewards.
Although their influence wained somewhat towards the end of the opening period, Drogheda regained their steel and began the second spell as they had the first. And, only four minutes after the restart, Fitzpatrick, having ran onto Stephen Bradley's through ball, chipped Michael Devine from 25 yards but the Cork goalkeeper, back in the side after injury, backtracked to tip the ball over his crossbar.
Neither side could make the breakthrough and, consequently, the eye-catching football of earlier quickly disappeared and was replaced by a tetchy contest, littered with robust and, more often that not, late challenges. A sign, indeed, of the growing animosity between these two increasingly bitter rivals.
With the tackles flying in thick and hard, time on the ball was at a premium and long balls forward - many of which were aimless - set the tone during a tense closing quarter. Cork, who by this stage had substituted the out-of-sorts O'Callaghan, were growing increasingly frustrated and their cause wasn't helped by Behan and O'Donovan's wayward shooting.
Nevertheless, Cork finished strongly and but for the outstanding Jason Gavin, who hurled himself at every ball, they may have truly tested Connor. The goalkeeper, though, gave his supporters palpitations two minutes from normal time when he raced clear of his line to clear O'Donovan's through ball, but Behan, who showed a smart turn of foot, got there before him only to see his shot deflect of Connor's foot.
But those Drogheda fans of a nervous disposition were soon dancing in the aisles. Some 12 minutes into the first extra-time period, Keith Fahey, the impressive substitute, took full advantage when Murphy inexplicably lost possession under no immediate pressure. He fed Stephen Bradley who in turn threaded the Cork cover with a delicious ball which Mark Leech, himself not long on the pitch, coolly slotted under Devine from eight yards.
The spectacle was marred after the final whistle when players from both sides clashed before the trophy presentation. Murphy was at the centre of things after allegedly striking Fahey, while Drogheda captain Declan O'Brien had to be pulled away from the Cork player having stepped in to defend his team-mate. But, in a case of mistaken identity, referee Dave McKeon showed Cork's Joe Gamble - easily their best player on the night - the red card instead of Murphy. The referee was later informed of the mistake and has referred to it in his official post-match report.
Cork City: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, O'Callaghan, O'Brien, Gamble; Behan, Fenn. Subs: Woods for O'Callaghan (56), McCarthy for Behan (99), Softic for O'Brien (103). Booked: O'Callaghn (17), Gamble (59), Behan (62).
Drogheda United: Connor; Shelley, Gavin, Gartland, Webb; Robinson, Bradley, Keegan, Keddy; Fitzpatrick, O'Brien. Subs: Leech for Fitzpatrick (72), Fahey for Robinson (83). Booked: Gavin (18), Fitzpatrick (45).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin)
