Drogheda take care of business against College Corinthians

The 2004 Cup champions were three goals to the good at the break. 

Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

College Corinthians 0 Drogheda United 3 

College Corinthians' adventure in the Club Orange Men's FAI Cup came to an end with a 3-0 defeat to League of Ireland side Drogheda United on home soil.

Gary Hackett and his players now turn their attention to next weekend’s meeting with St. Mary’s in the FAI Intermediate Cup quarter finals, with the reigning champions looking to take a huge step towards keeping the trophy in Castletreasure.

It simply wasn’t to be, with the club finding themselves 3-0 down at the break against a team that that won the competition outright in 2024.

Corinthians are now parking a campaign that saw memorable victories over Killester Donneycarney and Bangor Celtic, which left them the last Cork club standing going into the third round.

The Munster Senior League side had the worst possible start against Drogheda as Keegan Angcelin got in to score a header at the near post inside the first minute of play.

Kevin Doherty’s team were emboldened by this, as they pushed up in pursuit of a second. Mark Doyle was the first player to try his luck during this period and he drew an excellent save from new Corinthians signing Corey Chambers.

The goalkeeper, that spent the first six months of the year lining out for Cobh Ramblers, followed that up by getting in the way of an effort from Conor Keeley.

Corinthians first real chance of the game came from a Craig Donnellan free-kick in the 10th minute that dropped to Garan Manley for a rising shot that went over the bar.

Drogheda responded by getting their second, from a neat through ball that was guided in by Doyle in the 13th minute.

The scorer then set up Jason Bucknor up for a header that went over the bar, as their onslaught continued.

A third goal was coming and it arrived from the feet of Angcelin in the 41st minute., Corinthians came out from the break and rallied, beginning with a stunning strike from Keelan Crowley that hit the post within seconds of the restart.

Harvey Skieters produced a number of runs during this period, as the club tried to get a goal back, but the forward was unable to get in and test the Drogheda defence.

Corinthians did win three corners in quick succession, and appealed for a penalty over a handball in one. The referee waved this on, as their comeback mission petered out late on.

It wasn’t to be and their dream ended in defeat. Now it is all about retaining the FAI Intermediate Cup.

College Corinthians: Corey Chambers; Colm Harte, Eric Cunningham, Garan Manley (Eoghan Murphy 70), Daniel Meade; Craig Donnellan (Pierce Philips 65), Faruq Adegboyega; Destinty Okonkwo, Harvey Skieters, Keelan Crowley (Anthony Brothers 80), Douwe Van Sinderen (Padraig McGrath 80).

Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Edwin Agbage (Andrew Quinn HT), Conor Keeley, James Bolger; Warren Davis (Daniel Mare 63), Alife Bates, Shane Farrell (Jago Godden 63), Brandon Kavanagh, Jason Bucknor (Kieran Cruise HT); Keegan Angcelin, Mark Doyle.

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan