O’Callaghan goal breaks win drought

Cork City 1, Drogheda Utd 0

Cork were unconvincing as they stumbled their way to victory, but a first win in five matches was welcome regardless of the circumstances.

The truth of that statement is reflected in the respective Eircom League

positions of the teams Cork riding high with a place in Europe within their sights; Drogheda sinking deeper into relegation trouble with five matches played since their last win.

The gap between the two in real terms is considerable but there was precious little to choose between them in this contest. Cork's winning goal was a scrambled affair, an individual smash-and-grab effort by the alert George O'Callaghan. Cork were more adventurous in their approach, it is true, but while they showed the capacity to retain possession and work some attractive patterns in their approach play they did not

create more chances than Drogheda.

Drogheda played with great spirit and they applied sustained pressure on the Cork defence in the second half when they were backed by the strong wind. With Declan O'Brien in lively form and substitute Andy Myler

proving an effective target player, they were tantalisingly close to an equaliser.

Cork will point to their early sparkle as evidence of their superiority and it looked as if they would put the game beyond Drogheda's reach early.

Their goal came after eight minutes when Paudie Gallogley miscued an

attempted clearance of Billy Woods and O'Callaghan poked the loose ball beyond goalkeeper Gary Rogers.

Woods was the main source of Cork's penetration, for despite their ability to retain the ball well, they

repeatedly failed to provide an effective pass for the strikers. They had better scoring chances in the second half but Woods mis-kicked with only goalkeeper Rogers to beat to lose their best chance and the goalkeeper did well to save from substitute Conor O'Grady.

"We had plenty of chances," said manager Liam Murphy. "I'm pleased that we've kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive match and you must credit our new signing Dan Murray for some of that. Our goalkeeper Michael Devine kept his

concentration well and he deserved a clean sheet."

Drogheda manager Harry McCue struggled to hide his disappointment when he said, "I thought we would get something out of the game at half time but it was not to be. Chances were few in the second half and Devine made a couple of very good saves. To be going home with nothing is disappointing".

CORK CITY (4-4-2): Devine; Carey, Daly (Cronin 63), Murray, Horgan; Warren, Bennett (O'Grady 63), Reynolds, Woods; O'Flynn, O'Callaghan.

DROGHEDA UTD (4-4-2): Rogers; Todd, Gallogley, Lynch, Kelly; Quinless (Myler 75), Dunne, O'Connor, Dempsey (Cronin 63); O'Brien,

Delaney.

Referee: Mr J O'Neill (Waterford).