CORK CITY ARE within touching distance of their first top-flight title in twelve years after Stephen Dooley’s strike gave them a narrow win over Drogheda at United Park.

John Caulfield’s side now need just eight more points from their remaining nine league games to be crowned champions.

Having suffered a first loss of the season against Bohemians on Monday night, they made a point of starting brightly here and came within a whisker of taking the lead on 26 minutes when Conor Ellis struck the upright after good work out wide by Karl Sheppard.

Ellis was involved when the Leesiders eventually took the lead early in the second half, flicking the ball on for Dooley to race clear and neatly tuck the ball between the legs of the onrushing Stephen McGuinness.

City, inevitably, were put under pressure as the second period wore on but the home side failed to properly trouble Mark McNulty.

As the clock ticked towards injury-time, Dooley almost grabbed his brace but his volley flew a couple of inches wide.

Then, moments, later, the guests rattled the woodwork for a second time as Jimmy Keohane’s effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

But, City only required the one goal.

And they require just a few more for a third League of Ireland trophy in the club’s 33-year history to be secured.

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