Dooley gets Cork back to winning ways

CORK CITY bounced back from their first league defeat of the season in midweek as Stephen Dooley’s second half goal was enough to see off Drogheda. Dooley struck his fourth league goal of the season as Cork maintained their 17 point lead at the summit and left Drogheda eight points adrift of safety with eight games to play. The visitors almost hit the front inside 40 seconds, as Connor Ellis beat Stephen McGuinness but not the post. The better opportunities fell for the Leesiders early on. Alan Bennett flicked on a corner and Ellis was denied by Sean Brennan on the line. Then he got a toe to Karl Sheppard’s cross but the ball came off the foot of the post. While Cork started stronger, Drogheda created chances of their own. Thomas Byrne and Jake Hyland also both saw efforts sail wide. Both sides pushed for an opener before Cork hit the front. Conor McCormack shot wide and Conor Kane blasted over. However, Dooley made no mistake when an attempted clearance fell nicely and he slotted the ball through McGuinness’ legs and in. Jimmy Keohane hit the bar in injury-time but one goal proved enough for Cork. DROGHEDA UNITED: McGuinness; Elworthy, Buckley, Dunne, Kane; S Brennan (McEvoy, 68), Hyland (Purdy, 74); Russell (Wixted, 77), Bayly, Byrne; Mulhall. CORK CITY: McNulty; Beattie, Bennett, Williams, Griffin; McCormack, Buckley (Keohane, 80), Morrissey; Sheppard (Sadlier, 62), Ellis (Campion, 62), Dooley. Scorer: Dooley 54 Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick)