Drogheda and Cork play out 2-2 draw
Friday 27th April 2007, 10:03 pm
Roy O'Donovan, Cork City.
Photo by Tom Carey.
27th April 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Drogheda United 2
Shane Robinson 8 pen
Sami Ristila 72
Cork City 2
Roy O'Donovan 61, 66 pen
United Park
Drogheda United slipped behind Saint Patrick's Athletic in the Premier Division of the eircom League tonight after dropping points for just the second time in the league this season. The Drogs played out a 2-2 draw with third placed Cork City, maintaining the seven point gap between the two clubs.
Drogheda added Graham Gartland to their starting line-up as he made a welcome return from injury - although he replaced the now injured Brian Shelley. Cork too had an injury problem, opting not to risk John O'Flynn ahead of Monday's Setanta Sports Cup semi-final in Belfast.
Drogheda got the perfect start when Shane Robinson slotted home an eighth minute penalty. The kick had been awarded after goalkeeper Michael Devine was adjudged to have brought down Tony Grant in the box after the Drogheda striker had outpaced the visiting defence.
Cork went in search of an almost immediate equaliser and goalkeeper Mikko Vilmunnen was forced to tip over from Dan Murray's header. Roy O'Donovan also tested the keeper and tried to beat the Finnish keeper with a deft chip.
O'Donovan got in to level just after the hour as he bundled the ball home after Joe Gamble's low cross into the box. O'Donovan got his second on 66 minutes to put Cork ahead.
The Cork striker slotted home the second penalty of the night after he was clipped by Vilmunnen in the area.
Despite battling back to lead, Cork still conspired to throw away a possible win. Devine lingered too long on a clearance only to have it charged down by the always lively Eamon Zayed and substitute Sami Ristilla nipped in to coolly slot the ball into the empty net.
Drogheda United : Vilmunnen, Byrne, Webb, Gray, Gartland, Robinson (Whelan 85), Keegan, Bradley, Cahill, Zayed, Grant (Ristila 67).
Cork City : Devine, Horgan, Ryan (Cillian Lordan 90), O'Callaghan, Murray, O'Brien, Gamble, O'Donovan, Softic, Behan, Kearney.