IrishFootballOnline.com » The unofficial and Independent Irish Football website.

Drogheda grind out a draw in Cork

Sunday 22nd July 2007, 5:15 pm

John O'Flynn, Cork City.

Photo by Tom Carey.

Cork City and Drogheda United played out a 0-0 draw at Turner's Cross in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Drogheda will be happier having left the Cross with a point although St. Pats and Shamrock Rovers will also be pleased as the top of the table stays tight ahead of their Monday night clash.

Cork's plans were hit even before the game after top scorer Roy O'Donovan pulled up with a hamstring injury in the warm up and it got worse for them during the first half when the injury jinxed John O'Flynn also left proceedings with a suspected hamstring problem.

Cork had the best of the chances in the game as Drogheda put on an unambitious showing that always hinted a draw would be welcomed by them.

O'Flynn went close in the early going with a deflected shot after beating a couple of the Drogs defenders.

Leon MacSweeney went close while Dan Murray forced a good save from Dan Murray with a header from Joe Gamble's free kick.

Denis Behan missed with the chance of the game midway through the second half. The Cork substitute pulled his shot wide with Dan Connor's goal at his mercy following a great pull-back from MacSweeney.

After bravely blocking Behan's drilled effort, Drogeheda's Brian Shelley went close to snatching a dramatic winner right at the end. Following a typical surging run forward, his shot had Cork keeper Michael Devine scrambling across to push the ball behind for a corner.

Cork City : Devine, Horgan, Kelly, Murray, Woods (Ryan 80), Lordan, Gamble, Farrelly (O'Brien 85), Healy, MacSweeney, O'Flynn (Behan 35).
Drogheda United : Connor, Shelley, Tambouras (Gray 46), Gartland, Webb, O'Keeffe (Baker 58), Robinson, Byrne, Keegan, Keegan, Zayed.