SETANTA CUP/Cork City 0 Drogheda Utd 0:CORK CITY can't score at home and Drogheda United can't seem to score at all, the two sides cancelling each other out in a relatively lively but ultimately fruitless Setanta Cup fixture at Turner's Cross last night.
Alan Mathews' selection had a few changes, some forced, some tactical. Darragh Ryan came in instead of the suspended Danny Murphy whose last appearance in this competition in the 2006 decider, which the Leesiders lost to last night's opposition, resulted in the left back getting sent off for an altercation after the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Dave Mulcahy, Pat Sullivan and Denis Behan were all left out after below-par performances at Shamrock Rovers on Friday night. Paul Doolin, for his part, brought in Paul Keegan and Ibrahim Thiam, the 6ft 7in Senegalese striker making his full debut for the Boynesiders.
Both teams were equally edgy when it came to creating clearcut chances, but Cork had more of the possession. Man of the match Joe Gamble was well on top in the centre.
George O'Callaghan benefited from much too much space on the right wing, but the temporary Drogheda centre back pairing of Graham Gartland and Brian Shelly was more than capable at the back in dealing with any ball Cork did manage to get into the box.
After 34 minutes, chances arrived at both ends. First, O'Callaghan's squared ball across the six-yard box should have found Colin Healy or O'Flynn for an easy tap-in, but the City pair seemed to think the other would take the honour of hitting the net.
The resultant Drogheda counter-attack nearly punished that indecision, but Ryan was in the right place to block Zayed's attempt.
A decent cross from O'Callaghan in the 52nd minute found the Cork strikers in two minds again, both O'Flynn and Mooney misjudging the flight of the ball while left back Ryan made another telling intervention just after the hour mark as the ball bounced dangerously around the Cork box.
The visitors' best opportunity to break the deadlock came in the 66th minute.
Shane Robinson's corner found Gartland's head but despite directing it well, Devine got down well to save one handed.
And the hosts produced their own best stab at an opener 12 minutes later when O'Callaghan's ball from deep found Kearney whose brave diving header under pressure from goalkeeper Vilmunen went agonisingly right of the post.
CORK CITY:M Devine; N Horgan, C Lordan, D Murray (capt), D Ryan (P Sullivan 72 mins); G O'Callaghan, J Gamble, C Healy, L Kearney; D Mooney (D Behan 74 mins), J O'Flynn. Subs not used:Darren Murphy, M McNulty, C O'Brien, S Kelly.
DROGHEDA UNITED:M Vilmunen; S Byrne, B Shelley, G Gartland, J Kendrick; S Robinson, A Hughes, P Keegan, O Cahill (R Baker 68 mins); I Thiam (G Bates 57 mins), E Zayed (A O'Keefe 77 mins). Subs not used:J Ewing, J Tambouras, S Ristila, G Whelan.
Referee:D McKeown.
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