Cork City are down to second from bottom in the Premier Division after an own goal from Aly Gilchrist cancelled out a header by Ruairi Keating, and gave Drogheda United a point on their first visit to Turner's Cross in six years.
Everything was going the home side’s way until the ball looped over Jimmy Corcoran from a Darragh Markey shot, and that injected a level of chaos that led to a frantic finish on Leeside.
Drogheda were patient from the whistle and they were almost rewarded in the second minute when Fredrick Draper got on the end of cross from Ryan Brennan but he headed wide.
City enjoyed the majority of possession, and they were almost constantly forcing chances inside the area.
The first came from a long throw that Aaron Bolger narrowly missed, and then a shot from Keating was saved by Colin McCabe at the near post.
Every time Drogheda got forward they pried City open, but instead of chances they kept getting set pieces.
Barry Coffey saved his side during this spell of the game, as he stopped Dayle Rooney from getting a touch inside the area after Brennan crossed in.
All of City’s control came together following a foul on Daniel Krezic by Elicha Ahui. A free was given and Bolger’s ball was nodded down and in by Keating at the back post.
Drogheda pushed up at the restart and the ball landed at the feet of Markey. His attempt was blocked by a scrambling City defence and Rooney’s corner came to nothing.
Then Gilchrist stuck out a leg and the ball deflected off the defender and over Corcoran. Drogheda had equalised and Turner’s Cross was silenced with just minutes left in the first half.
City looked a lot more composed after the break and they almost scored within minutes of the restart through Cian Bargary. The winger collected a low cross from Krezic and a goal bound shot was blocked on the line by Jarlath Jones.
The game slowed down after this, as both teams looked to suss one another out. This period of détente ended with Rooney breaking into the penalty area and battling Darragh Crowley. The City defender won the ball and at the end of his side’s counter attack was Krezic, and his shot stung the hands of McCabe.
City ended up bringing three strikers onto the pitch in the final fifteen minutes with Ethon Varian joining up with Cian Murphy and Keating. The trio were lively inside the area but City lacked a true creative in the centre to play a pass to their forwards.
Drogheda finished out the game by breaking with pace and a free header from Aaron McNally inside the area went narrowly over the intended target.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Cian Coleman, Ally Gilchrist, Aaron Bolger, Ruairi Keating, Barry Coffey (Albin Winbo 64), Cian Bargary, Daniel Krezic (Cian Murphy 69), Darragh Crowley, Josh Honohan, Jonas Hakkinen (Ethon Varian 80).
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Elicha Ahui, Evan Weir, Eammanuel Adegboyega, Darragh Markey, Gary Deegan, Fredrick Draper (Warren Davis 80), Dylan Grimes (Aaron McNally 73), Dayle Rooney, Jarlath Jones, Ryan Brennan (Darragh Noone 90).
Referee: Robert Harvey
