Drogheda United were denied their first win in 16 championship matches by a goal from Cork City 15 minutes from the end of a tough battle at Turner's Cross yesterday.

Cork saved a precious point when Ollie Cahill popped up to strike a glorious equalising goal just when it seemed that basement team in the league were about to break their duck with a win.

Cahill's strike followed a good cross from Stephen Napier and was despatched with some style by the talented winger to produce a goal that cheered the 3,000 home fans after a match in which they had precious little to cheer. Indeed it was Drogheda who looked the more likely team for most of the game as they took advantage of an off-colour performance by Cork to dominate and create several chances.

They took just one after 40 minutes, but this was also a quality goal. It was created by John Reid with an accurate cross from the right wing which found John Gallen outside the far upright. The former Dundalk player controlled the ball on his chest before rifling home a shot from 15 yards.

Cork injected much more urgency into their play after the break when Noel Hartigan was introduced at centre forward and Patsy Freyne came into midfield. They found the balance and the drive they had earlier been lacking.

Cork manager Dave Barry admitted he was relieved and said: "We were worth a draw because of our second half performance, I could not have asked for more."

Drogheda manager, Martin Lawlor spoke of his frustration at his team's failure to score their first win in the competition and said: "I'm happy with the performance; but not so happy with the result. I feel we should have capitalised on our first half superiority; but we failed to control the second half."

Cork City: Mooney, Napier, Coughlan, Daly, Barry Murphy, O'Brien, Flanagan, Cronin, Cahill, Cotter, Kabia. Subs: Hartigan for Cotter (46 mins); Freyne for Flanagan (70 mins).

Drogheda United: Byrne, Hill, N Reid, Carroll, Fairclough, O'Dowd, Ramage, Beggs, Harte, Gallen, J Reid. Sub: Irwin for Gallen (70 mins).

Referee: D J O'Neill (Waterford).