Cork City battle back in dour draw with Drogheda United

A huge game but not one that is going to determine the season, with 14 games and 42 points still to play for, as Cork and Drogheda played out a 1-1 draw before a crowd of 3,851.

The home fans were restless long before the half-time whistle as goal chances were at a premium, though Drogheda did look the more likely team to break the deadlock on a cool, overcast evening on Leeside.

They did just that on 67 minutes when Adam Foley poked home a left-footed shot from Ryan Brennan’s clever pass, just minutes after City had made a triple substitution.

Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh had other ideas though as he fired home the equaliser with nine minutes to go.

This was the third meeting of the relegation rivals but Cork remain two points behind Drogheda in ninth.

Drogheda, with two wins from last five games, were missing eight-goal top-scorer Freddie Draper after his return to Lincoln City but Evan Weir passed a late fitness test.

Wide player Elicha Ahui started what was his last game for the club as his loan spell is also up and he returns to Lincoln too.

Ryan Brennan the top scorer in the Drogheda squad, with 22 goals in 157 appearances, started in attack in a game of very few chances.

Darragh Markey’s cross drifted outside the far post after 19 minutes and then Tunde Owolabi caused a threat at the other end with a run deep into the box before being stopped.

Andrew Wogan saved at Ruairi Keating’s feet after Gordon Walker’s cross as Cork opted to play into the Shed-end in the first half.

But goal chances were at a premium in an opening 45 minutes in which Drogheda looked the more likely to get a breakthrough as they again bossed midfield.

Brennan missed a sitter to win it for the visitors in the last minute when he steered the ball wide from in