Damning defeat for City despite Daniels double

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Cork City were coming off of a positive point at home against Shamrock Rovers as they faced a quick turnaround to travel to Louth to face Drogheda United on monday night. City were looking to close the gap to eighth placed Waterford by picking up some points against the high flying Drogheda.

Tim Clancy made just the one change from the side that held Shamrock, with Harry Nevin coming into the side to replace Rio Shipston, which moved Darragh Crowley into defensive midfield and Nevin into right back.

Tim Clancy’s former assistant Kevin Doherty made six changes to his side that were held by Sligo, with Brady, James-Taylor, Cooper, Brennan, Heeney and Lambe all coming into the side to replace Dennison, Ahui, Bolger, Doyle, Markey and Oluwa.

The hosts started slowly but came close with two minutes gone. They swung a free kick in which was headed over the top of the city defence which was latched onto by Frank Cooper, but he couldn't keep his shot down and blazed over from ten yards.

He would be made to rue that missed chance as thanks to their strong start, Cork City took the lead after seven minutes. A long ball forward was brilliantly flicked down the line by Djenairo Daniels for Kitt Nelson to chase. Nelson got down the line and fizzed it across, but the Drogheda defence managed to get a flick on it, but only for the oncoming Djenairo Daniels to whack it on the volley and send the ball crashing off the crossbar into the back of the net to give himself his first goal for his new club.

City were on top in the first half but gave away another big chance with twenty seven minutes gone. Shane Farrell dinked it down the line to Owen Lambe, who stopped and chipped the ball into the box for the outstretched Douglas James-Taylor, who got a toe on it but dragged his shot narrowly wide.

City were doing a decent job at keeping a struggling Drogheda at bay, but the home side were gifted a way back into the game with five minutes to go in the half. Kitt Nelson made a cynical foul just outside his own box which allowed Shane Farrell to step up and send a heavily deflected free kick into the back of the net that left Tein Troost wrongfooted as Drogheda were back level.

Conor Kane had a thundering effort palmed away by Tein Troost on the stroke of halftime but overall City frustratingly went into the break level with Drogheda as both sides looked to try and take control of the second half.

One side certainly did take control of the second half, and it was the home side who managed to run the visitors ragged to begin the second half, and eventually got their just rewards with sixty two minutes gone. Shane Farrell and Owen Lambe played a wonderful one-two down the right flank with the latter whipping a ball across the box, which allowed Warren Davis to capitalise and flick the ball home at the near post to give his side the lead. 

The hosts managed the game very well and seemed unthreatened by the visitors who tried everything including multiple substitutes to try and salvage the game.

Despite the control of Drogheda, it was City who grabbed the next goal of the game with four minutes to play. Cathal O’Sullivan worked hard down the left wing to beat his man and whip a ball into the six yard box towards Djenairo Daniels, who managed to skilfully turn past the defender and goalkeeper before lashing the ball into the back of the net to pull his side level in the game.

City just needed to hold onto the point, but they faltered at the final hurdle in the ninety fifth minute. A ball into the box was flicked on for Thomas Oluwa to latch onto, who took a poor touch to the left which meant that the oncoming Tein Troost clattered into the Drogheda forward and gave Drogheda a late penalty to win the game. Ryan Brennan stepped up and sent Troost the wrong way to salvage three points late on for the hosts.

That would call time on the game as City fell to a heartbreaking late defeat, one that albeit was deserved. The start to the game from City was strong and they were the better side in the first half. Had the free kick not been deflected and not gone in, the game may have been very different as that goal seemed to deflate City and shoot their confidence going into the break. They came out a different side and really struggled to get any sort of grip on the game and a general poor display at the back led to Drogheda piercing through City multiple times and allowing them to score three. The league table is becoming more and more concerning as it's slowly starting to seem as if it'll be a battle for ninth between City and Sligo, but with the imminent return of Seani Maguire, hopefully form can improve despite the struggles defensively.

As for Drogheda, they'll be very disappointed with the first half performance as they were second best to City for the vast majority of the half. The first goal gave them belief and confidence and they utilised it, along with City’s drop off, to take control of the game and handle City for most of the half, and even despite the Daniels goals, still steal it late on and secure the three points.

My man of the match, despite the result, goes to Djenairo Daniels. Owen Lambe was very impressive for the hosts, but I can't look past the scintillating performance that CIty;s new frontman displayed on Monday despite the general poor performance of most of his peers. His link up and hold up play was sensational and his composite for both of his goals was very good and he showed what we might be able to expect from him in the future, which we could definitely use in the near future.

City will have to look to get back to winning ways against an in-form Derry City in Turner’s Cross on Friday night. As for Drogheda, they'll hope to stay top of the league after they face second-placed Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght.