League Report: Dundalk 1 - 2 Drogheda United

For the first time since June 2012, Drogheda United departed Oriel Park with three league points following their 2-1 victory on Friday night.

A brace from Mark Doyle meant that a powerful effort from Michael Duffy was merely a consolation on a disappointing night for Vinny Perth’s Dundalk as they slumped to ninth in the table following wins for Waterford and Finn Harps.

The evening began in sombre circumstances as the crowd of 500 held a minute’s silence for a number of recently departed linked to both clubs including legendary Dundalk personality Tommy Connolly and Drogheda United Under 14 coach David Conroy who tragically lost his life in a road traffic accident on Thursday morning.

There was little to report in the opening half hour bar the early substitution of the injured Daniel Cleary- the defender only lasting 8 minutes on his first home start since the loss to Sligo Rovers in May.

As to be expected in a game between local rivals, every ball was fought to be won and the middle of the field saw a number of robust challenges between Killian Philips and Greg Sloggett.

However, it was a moment of inspiration rather than perspiration which saw Drogheda United take the lead just after the half hour mark as Darragh Markey pounced on a loose ball in midfield to surge forward and tee up Mark Doyle who calmly turned and rolled the ball into the corner of Abibi’s net to open the scoring for Tim Clancy’s men.

The suspended boss was seated high in the main stand but his voice could be heard booming to his players throughout.

The lively debutant Sami Ben Amar had Conor Kane pinned back for most of the first hour. However, the full back overlapped to take a pass from the surging Phillips less than ten minutes into the second half. He ensuing cross was converted by Doyle to make it 2-0 just moments after Phillips himself had been denied by Abibi.

For their part, Dundalk had seen Odumosu deny Hoban with a fine stop before the former Dundalk Academy stopper was powerless to stop a Michael Duffy pile-driver on 58 minutes.

2-1 and game on. Or so it would have appeared to be set up for. Except it never really happened- Dundalk huffed and puffed but couldn’t break down a resolute Drogheda United defence and it was the Boynesiders themselves who looked more dangerous as they broke with pace any time a Dundalk move came to nothing.

In the end they saw out the 94 minutes with relative ease and left Dundalk and their supporters with much to think about.

Dundalk: Alessio Abibi; Raivis Jurkovskis, Cameron Dummigan, Daniel Cleary (Sonni Nattestad 8), Andy Boyle (c); Sam Stanton, Greg Sloggett (Sean Murray 46), Will Patching, Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban, Sami Ben Amar (Han Jeongwoo 60).

Subs not used: Cameron Yates, Mayowa Animasahun, Ryan O'Kane, Wilfried Zahibo, Daniel Kelly, Val Adedokun.

Booked: Cameron Dummigan (45), Han Jeongwoo (69).

Drogheda United: David Odumosu; Conor Kane, James Brown, Daniel O'Reilly, Joe Redmond; Jake Hyland (c) (Luke Heeney 59), Gary Deegan, Darragh Markey (Ronan Murray 88), Killian Phillips; Mark Doyle, Jordan Adeyemo (James Clarke 88).

Subs not used: Colin McCabe, Mohammad Boudiaf, Charles Mutawe, Dane Massey, Sam O'Brien, Kaleem Simon.

Booked: Conor Kane (41) .

Referee: Ben Connolly.

Attendance: 500.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Killian Phillips (Drogheda United).