Cork C 3 Drogheda U 2:CORK CITY picked up their first win since June at Turner's Cross as they derailed Drogheda United's pursuit of leaders Sligo Rovers in the most entertaining of games at Turner's Cross last night.

In a dramatic clash, the home side hit the front after only five minutes when Danny Murphy’s free-kick struck the upright and Vinny Sullivan bundled the ball home for his ninth goal of the campaign.

Drogheda looked sluggish early on and Declan O’Brien cut a lonely figure up top, but when Seán Brennan rattled the crossbar after a half hour they finally enjoyed a spell in attack. Indeed their equaliser arrived with five minutes of the half to play as Eric Foley struck a stunning free-kick into the top left corner from all of 30 yards.

Yet Cork regained the lead on 50 minutes when Murray bundled home before the action flared up again. Mark McNulty was harshly sent off for a challenge on Gavin Brennan in the 62nd minute and when O’Brien struck to the roof of the net to make it 2-2 from the penalty spot, it looked like Drogheda would press for a winner.

But the home side grabbed the winner on 68 minutes thanks to a moment of magic from Davin O’Neill. He raced down the left, rounded Conor McMahon and sent a lofted effort into the net with the aid of a deflection from Gabriel Sava.

CORK CITY: McNulty; N Horgan, Kavanagh, K Murray, Murphy; Turner (O’Neill, 62 mins), G Morrissey, Duggan, D Horgan; Sullivan (White, 65 mins), Parker (Quinn, 85 mins).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Sava; Quigley, McNally (Gannon, 74 mins), Byrne, McMahon; G Brennan, Foley, Sullivan (R Brennan, 62 mins), Crowley, S Brennan (Mulvenna, 62 mins); O’Brien.

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).