Cork City left gutted as Drogheda United snatch late winner
Djenairo Daniels of Cork City. Picture: INPHO/James Lawlor
Djenairo Daniels looked to have rescued a valuable point for Cork City on Monday night at Sullivan & Lambe Park with a late equaliser, but heartbreak followed in stoppage time as City slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Drogheda United.
Ryan Brennan converted a 94th-minute penalty after City goalkeeper Tein Troost brought down Thomas Oluwa, denying Tim Clancy’s side what would have been a hard-earned and morale-boosting point on the road.
It was a cruel end to a game where City had twice come from behind, showing grit and determination despite signs of fatigue from a hectic run of fixtures. Daniels was the standout performer for the visitors, scoring his first two goals for the club.
Clancy made just one change from the team that drew 2-2 with Shamrock Rovers on Friday night, with Harry Nevin coming into the starting 11 in place of Rio Shipston. That change saw Nevin take up the right-back slot, pushing Darragh Crowley into central midfield.
Drogheda began the brighter of the two teams, using the wide spaces of Sullivan & Lambe Park to stretch play and put City under pressure from an early flurry of set-pieces. The hosts should have gone ahead inside ten minutes when a loose ball fell kindly to George Cooper in the box, but he blazed over from close range.
That early let-off seemed to jolt City into life, and they responded well. The breakthrough came midway through the half, as Daniels capitalised on hesitation between Drogheda’s centre-backs, and thundered a finish high into the net. It was a striker’s goal – instinctive, powerful, and clinical – and it gave City a foothold in the game.
Daniels’ opener settled Cork, and they looked more composed in and out of possession, quieting the home support. But just as they appeared ready to take a lead into the interval, Drogheda hit back. Shane Farrell lined up a free-kick just outside the box, and though the effort seemed tame, it took a wicked deflection off the wall to leave Troost wrong-footed and helpless as the ball hit the net.
The second half lacked fluency, with both teams clearly feeling the effects of playing just three days earlier. While chances were limited, Drogheda produced the game’s standout moment midway through the half. A slick move down the left led to Owen Lambe drilling a low ball across the box, where Warren Davis got across Nevin and finished smartly to restore the hosts' lead.
City struggled to create much in response but with five minutes to go, a cross into the box saw Daniels get across the front post to nudge the ball over the line with an unorthodox but effective finish – a goal that sent the travelling support wild and looked to have secured a point.
But deep into stoppage time, City’s resistance was finally broken. Thomas Oluwa was brought down by Troost, leaving the referee little choice but to point to the spot. Brennan stepped up and calmly slotted the winner, leaving City deflated and heading back to City empty-handed.
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