Cork City 3 Drogheda United 1
Cork City returned to winning ways as late goals from Garry Buckley and Billy Dennehy ensured that they took all of the points against Drogheda United at Turner's Cross.
Having laboured for much of the first half, City took the lead through Liam Kearney in the 57th minute but Drogheda equalised through Carl Walshe shortly after and had chances to take what would have been an unlikely lead.
Buckley, who had been pushed up to the top of the midfield after Cork manager John Caulfield reverted to 4-5-1 from 4-4-2 at half-time, made a difference though and it was he who was on hand to expertly convert the rebound after David Ryan had saved from Dennehy’s long-range effort.
Then, Dennehy curled a free kick home from the right corner of the box for his sixth of the season and the hosts would not be denied after that.
In the first half, Cork played relatively well without testing Ryan and had a let-off when Gavin Brennan sent a penalty wide after Mark McNulty had felled Declan O’Brien.
At the other end, Dan Murray headed against the crossbar shortly before half-time but it was not until the second period that they proved more clinical.
Kearney put them ahead after Buckley saw his effort blocked, but when Walshe converted after Michael Daly's cross was half-blocked, nerves began to creep in again. Brennan was unlucky with a header, but s Cork had the final say.
CORK CITY:
McNulty; Kavanagh, Murray, D Dennehy, Dunleavy; Kearney (Murphy 80), G Morrissey, Buckley (Buckley 89), B Dennehy; Elding (O'Leary half-time), O'Sullivan.
DROGHEDA UTD
: Ryan; Daly (Doyle 85), McNally, Andrews, Grimes; Walshe, McGuigan, O'Neill (Hughes 85), Maher (Foley 85), Brennan; O'Brien.
Referee:
T Connolly (Dublin).
Att:
4,420