Dave Mooney’s 14th goal in nine games boosted Cork City’s title prospects – but the Leesiders may face a battle to keep their star striker.
Reading boss Steve Coppell was in United Park for Sunday’s encounter, while a Chelsea scout was also believed to be in attendance.
This contest initially lacked the intensity of many clashes between these clubs in recent years, perhaps as a result of their midweek exertions in Europe.
One chance apiece was all they could muster in a dull opening quarter, with Eamon Zayed and Darren Murphy each glancing headers wide of the target following set-piece moves.
The game deteriorated further at that stage, punctuated by silly fouls, but gradually the Leesiders gained the upper hand, with Darren Murphy shooting wide and then Dave Mooney curling beyond keeper Dan Connor’s left-hand post.
Drogheda finished the half in the ascendancy, though, and one of their former players, Pat Sullivan, twice denied them by blocking goal-bound shots from Richie Baker and Sami Ristila.
Cork were on the back foot at the start of the second half and Fahrudiz Kuduzovic headed narrowly wide from Baker’s free kick, but it was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock when Graham Gartland’s tackle on Mooney in the box was deemed a penalty and Mooney himself easily beat Connor from the spot.
Drogheda almost replied immediately when Ollie Cahill’s cross picked out Eamon Zayed, whose flying header grazed the bar, but as the clock ran down the Boynesiders were forced to throw caution to the wind, bringing on Declan O’Brien to bolster the attack.
O’Brien headed a late chance over the crossbar for the Drogs and Kuduzovic had another effort, but Cork held on for a hard-earned three points.
Drogheda United: Connor, Byrne, Maher, Gartland, Cahill, Baker, Robinson, Hughes, Ristila, Kuduzovic, Zayed. Subs: Williams for Ristila (46min), Tambouras for Robinson (46min), O’Brien for Hughes (71min).
Cork City: Devine, Horgan, Sullivan, Murray, Danny Murphy, Darren Murphy, Lordan, Healy, Kearney, Mooney, Behan.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
