The meeting of the Premier Division champions and the FAI Cup holders failed to live up to expectations for the 2,480 who turned up to witness a sterile Setanta Sports Cup encounter at Turner’s Cross.
Drogheda United, who defeated Cork City in the 2006 decider at Tolka Park thanks to a Mark Leech goal, had only picked up one point from their opening two league outings against Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.
Cork had done a little better with two draws from their first league encounters; at home to Bray Wanderers and away to Shamrock Rovers last Friday.
There was only one clear-cut chance in a scoreless first half when the home side should really have scored after 34 minutes.
George O'Callaghan sent in a cross from the right wing which striker John O'Flynn completely missed in front of goal, the ball then fell to Colin Healy but he only half hit his shot to make it an easy save for goalkeeper Mikko Vilmunen.
The visitors’ best effort came after 65 minutes when a Graham Gartland header was cleared off the line by Cork defender Darragh Ryan.
Cork went even closer when an O'Callaghan cross found the head of winger Liam Kearney, but his header bounced a foot wide of the post after 77 minutes.
Clintonville and Dungannon drew 0-0 in the other fixture played on Tuesday evening.
Cork City: Devine; Horgan, Murray, Lordan, Ryan; O'Callaghan, Gamble, Healy, Kearney; Mooney, O'Flynn.
Substitutes: Sullivan for Ryan 72 mins, Behan for Mooney 73.
Drogheda United: Vilmunen; Kendrick, Gartland, Shelly, Byrne;
Robinson, Keegan, Hughes, Cahill; Zayed, Lyane, Thiam.
Substitutes: Bates for Thiam 57 mins, Baker for Cahill 67,
Referee: Dave McKeon (Dublin).
