League Report: Dundalk 1 - 0 Drogheda United

There were fourteen goals across three Louth Derbies last season, but this one was won by a solitary late goal from the tenacious Richie Towell.

The victims of a late strike on Saturday, when Limerick snatched an 89^th minute equaliser, this was a particularly satisfying win for Dundalk because in addition to securing local bragging rights, fellow title hopefuls Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and St Patricks Athletic all drew .

It was clear from the get-go that Drogheda United were setting up their stall to defend and frustrate the hosts. That said, they almost took the lead on 30 minutes when an unmarked Alan Byrne got on the end of a Sean Brennan free kick only to head wide at the back post. This aside, they played most of the game pinned in their own half and rarely threatened. The Drogs tried to break using long balls, but it never really troubled the Dundalk defenders.

The other stand out opportunity of the first half fell to The Town. Ronan Finn set up Richie Towell who forced Schlingermann into a fine save to put the ball out.  Although dominating possession Dundalk’s chances were limited in the first half.

The Boynesiders are only too aware of what can happen when they let their guard down against Dundalk. Last year’s 7-0 defeat is still fresh in recent memory and may well survive well beyond that. Let their guard down they did not. Drogheda stuck to their plan in the second half, while the Lilywhites upped the ante.

On the 64^th minute the deadlock was almost broken when Daryl Horgan had a shot saved off the line. This came in the midst of a wave of Dundalk attacks. A shoot-on-site policy was adopted as Dundalk struggled to get the crucial final touch in a well-guarded box that at times required Spartan-like discipline and effort to repel Lilywhite encirclement.

Manager Stephen Kenny used all of his substitutions in the second half to inject fresh legs and to give his side a more attack-minded look. John Mountney, Kurtis Byrne and Stephen O’Donnell were introduced in the space of twelve minutes and O’Donnell almost changed the game straight away when he got on the end of a Darly Horgan cross eight yards out, but it was always rising. With five minutes to go, it looked like Drogheda’s plan might actually work as the score remained nil all and Dundalk were facing a second draw in seven days.

In the end, the host’s persistence and patience paid off. SWAI Player of the Month David McMillian held the ball up well for left-back Dane Massey, who got a cross across the box which eluded both Kurtis Byrne and a host of scrambling Drogheda defenders but not Richie Towell who whacked it in at the back post.

For Drogheda it’s a case of ‘so near and yet so far’. For Dundalk there is little time to bask in derby glory as they prepare for a tough test against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght next week, but there is no denying they will be pleased to have gotten back to winning ways ahead of that clash.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle ©, Dane Massey; Chris Shields (Stephen O’Donnell 73), Richie Towell; Darren Meenan (Kurtis Byrne 79), Ronan Finn (John Mountney 67), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan.
Substitutes not used:  Gabriel Sava (GK), Shane Grimes, Paddy Barrett, Ciaran O’Connor.

Booked: Towell (88).

Drogheda United: Michael Schlingermann; Mick Daly ©, Alan Byrne (Shane Dunne 66), Lloyd Buckley, Joe Gorman; Sean Brennan, Stephen Maher, Mark Hughes, Jason Marks (Cathal Brady 46), Carl Walshe; Daryl Kavanagh (Tiarnan Mulvenna 84).
Substitutes not used: Dylan Connolly (GK), Robert O’Reilly,  Lee Duffy, Roy Kierans.

Booked: Gorman (16), Maher (35), Dunne (72).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Attendance: 3,457

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Richie Towell (Dundalk)