League Report: Dundalk 3 - 1 Drogheda United

Dundalk got back to winning ways in the SSE Airtricity League on Friday night with a comfortable 3-1 victory over local rivals Drogheda United in the Louth derby at Oriel Park.

Stephen Kenny will be delighted with his depleted side’s response following last week’s disappointing performance in Cork as goals from David McMillan, Michael Duffy and Brian Gartland were enough to claim the bragging rights over Drogheda, who have now suffered five consecutive league defeats.

The Lilywhites started the game brightly and got things in motion inside the first minute when Dane Massey’s audacious effort was spilled by Stephen McGuinness, who gathered safely at the second attempt before Duffy shot straight at the Drogheda goalkeeper after turning Colm Deasy.

Oriel Park rose to its feet in widespread applause as a mark of respect to Ryan McBride, who tragically died less than two weeks ago, in the fifth minute. Derry City’s big number five was a ferocious competitor and would’ve no doubt thrived in a local derby such as this one.

The visitors created their first chance of the night when Gareth McCaffrey got in behind Massey following Sean Brennan’s hopeful punt up the pitch, however the outrushing Gary Rogers spared the left-back’s blushes with a decent stop from close range.

Dundalk took what was a deserved lead in the 20th minute when Massey, who should’ve scored moments earlier when he blazed over, sent a pinpoint cross from the left to find McMillan who made no such mistake and scored on his first start of the season with a glancing header.

McMillan almost added his and Dundalk’s second five minutes later when his headed effort forced the sprawling McGuinness into a save following a good cross from Sean Gannon and McMillan was involved again moments later, this time the provider as his quick through ball from the right found Duffy who finished to double the host’s advantage.

Drogheda halved the deficit against the run of play when Rogers failed to gather Deasy’s cross from the right before Mark Griffin somehow got in ahead of Gannon at the back post to score against his former club and put The Boynesiders right back in contention.

Buoyed by that goal, Pete Mahon’s side grew in confidence and caused further panic in the Dundalk area when Deasy’s long throw found its way to Gavin Brennan but his effort didn’t really test Rogers.

Conor Clifford did brilliantly to nick the ball from Sean Thornton in midfield and evade a couple of challenges from Ciaran McGuigan and Gavin Brennan but his effort was excellently saved by McGuinness – the young keeper certainly earning his crust in the first half.

Dundalk were dealt a huge blow shortly after the restart when Gannon was stretchered off following a late tackle by Griffin, who did appear to have played the ball.

Gannon could now face a lengthy spell on the side-lines with medial ligament damage and joins an ever-growing list of casualties already at Oriel Park.

McMillan really should’ve put the game beyond Drogheda’s reach when he fired over from close range after Thomas Stewart had put the ball on a plate for him and the two front men linked up again, this time Stewart lobbing the ball just over following McMillan’s delightful dink.

Drogheda’s task became a whole lot more difficult when defender McGuigan, another former Dundalk player, received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card following a rash challenge on Chris Shields.

The hosts finally added the killer third from the resulting free-kick when Massey cleverly passed straight to McMillan who then found Gartland and the Dundalk captain coolly slotted home in what was a move straight from the training ground.

Gartland, who found the net more times than any other defender in the Premier Division last season, almost scored again when his header was well saved by McGuinness following a corner from Duffy before McMillan was off target on the follow up.

Duffy himself almost capped his man of the match display with another goal when he shot wide in what was to be the last kick of the match as Dundalk keep up the pressure on Cork City at the top while Drogheda have slipped into the bottom three.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon (Paddy Barrett 50), Brian Gartland, Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey; Jamie McGrath, Chris Shields (Sean Hoare 85), Conor Clifford, Michael Duffy; Thomas Stewart, David McMillan (Steven Kinsella 86).

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Keith Dalton, John Mountney, Dean Watters.

Booked: None.

Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Colm Deasy, Luke Gallagher, Ciaran McGuigan, Stephen Dunne; Gareth McCaffrey, Sean Thornton (Ryan McEvoy 77), Richie Purdy, Sean Brennan (Jake Hyland 60), Gavin Brennan; Mark Griffin (Stephen Elliott 66).

Subs not used: Ryan Coulter, Lloyd Buckley, Conor Kane, Thomas Byrne.

Booked: Mark Griffin (47), Gavin Brennan (61), Ciaran McGuigan (65 & 72).

Sent Off: Ciaran McGuigan (72).

Referee: Ben Connolly 

Attendance: 3,015

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Michael Duffy (Dundalk).