DJENAIRO DANIELS rescued a 96th-minute point for Cork City as Drogheda United failed to hold on at Turner’s Cross.
But Seani Maguire headed over from four yards in the eighth added minute as Ger Nash’s side could not snap their ten-game winless streak.
Sligo Rovers’ win saw Cork fall four points away from the relegation play-off in front of 1,815 fans.
A week after their expulsion from the Conference League was confirmed, Drogs hoped to rebuild their European dreams with another win.
But Shane Farrell’s fine free-kick was not enough as they dropped to third.
City mirrored Drogs’ 3-5-2 shape and started in spirited fashion. But the visitors were celebrating after 12 minutes.
After Milan Mbeng’s foul on Ryan Brennan, Farrell stepped up and unleashed a 25-yard curler over the wall.
It clipped off the post on its way to the net.
That would be Drogs’ only shot of the half.
Kevin Doherty’s side were happy to soak up pressure as City held 74 per cent of possession.
Daniels had a header in front of goal but did not connect properly.
Darragh Crowley’s brilliant floated pass over the cover found Maguire, who guided his looping header wide.
City continued to struggle to translate control into shots on target in the second half.
Drogs hitman Douglas James-Taylor almost capitalised on Freddie Anderson’s poor touch.
But City stopper Tein Troost reacted sharply to save his defender’s blushes by parrying over the crossbar.
Cathal O’Sullivan had a pair of shots blocked before teeing up Rio Shipston, who sidefooted over.
It looked like City had run out of time until Josh Fitzpatrick’s cross was met by Daniels’ bullet header for his fifth goal of the season.
Then, Mbeng fizzed a ball across for Maguire, who diverted his effort just over the bar.
SUN STAR MAN
Conor Keeley (Drogheda)
CORK CITY: Troost 7; Crowley 6 (O’Sullivan 46, 7), Anderson 6, Lyons 7; Mbeng 7, S Murray 6 (Shipston 64, 6), Nelson 6 (Dijksteel 77, 6), Bolger 7 (McLaughlin 68, 6), Kiernan 6 (Fitzpatrick 68, 7); Maguire 6, Daniels 7.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison 7; Cooper 6 (Harper-Bailey 8, 6), Keeley 8, Quinn 7; Lambe 6, Brennan 7 (Markey 67, 6), Farrell 7, Heeney 6, Kane 6; James-Taylor 6, Davis 6 (Oluwa 78, 6).
REFEREE: A Patchell (Dublin) 6.
