Second half goals from Kyle Robinson, Aaron McNally and Ryan Brennan moved Drogheda United eight points clear of the relegation playoff position as Kevin Doherty's side began the final round of fixtures with a win.
Malik Dijksteel’s sending off early in the second half proved the turning point for Liam Buckley’s strugglers, who missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on teams above them.
Kevin Custovic’s first half goal had them in control and they passed up numerous opportunities to put the game beyond Drogheda. Once Dijksteel was shown a second yellow, things went from bad to worse.
Cork arrived on the banks of the River Boyne without having tasted a defeat to Drogheda in over a decade. In fact, the last time the Leesiders lost to the Drogs in league action was in March 2012.
That night, a United team featuring a 20-year-old Ryan Brennan, came from two goals down to earn a memorable victory at Turner’s Cross. Custovic’s first half header meant Drogheda would have to mastermind another come-from-behind win to end that sequence – and they did so.
Liam Buckley’s team had won just once in their 26 previous away matches in the Premier Division – that was against Drogheda earlier this season when Tunde Owolabi’s goal settled the encounter.
The striker was left in reserve as City handed starts to two recent new arrivals Andrii Kravchuk and winger Dijksteel. Ruairi Keating, fresh from a goal in Monday’s FAI Cup win, started his first league game in six weeks.
The opening goal meant Drogheda had kept just two clean sheets in their last 22 outings in all competitions. UCD have managed the same number while if Cork could keep their own intact, they would move ever closer to the safety of eighth place.
It arrived when Custovic rose highest to head in Ben Worman’s corner. Keating twice blazed over when well placed before half time. He also hit the post in the second half as Cork attempted to hit back after Drogheda’s leveller.
Cork’s Dutch winger was shown a second yellow card for shoving Luke Heeney and suddenly their prospects of a win were much less sure.
Conor Keeley had seen a header crash off the crossbar before he knocked down Dayle Rooney’s free kick for Robinson to score emphatically. Bar the occasional foray, United had control from that point.
Brennan laid on McNally’s goal, a well taken volley with five minutes to play. When Adam Foley was felled in the area in injury time, the now veteran Brennan scored from the spot to seal a memorable win.
Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan; Luke Heeney, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir, Conor Kane; Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan; Adam Foley, Darragh Markey (Warren Davis, 52), Dayle Rooney (Aaron McNally, 73); Kyle Robinson.
Cork City: Oliver Byrne; Kevin Custovic, Cian Coleman, Joshua Honohan, Conor Drinan; Rokas Stanulevicius (Gordon Walker, 53), Andrii Kravchuk; Cian Bargary, Ben Worman (Jaze Kabia, 62), Malik Dijksteel; Ruairi Keating.
Referee: Rob Hennessy
