Report: Drogheda Utd 1 - 2 Bohemians

Killian Brennan’s injury time penalty earned Bohemians a 2-1 victory over champions Drogheda United in an enthralling game at United Park.

Brennan had fired Bohs in-front on the stroke of half time with an exquisite free-kick from 20-yards. Drogheda drew level in the 72nd minute when Ollie Cahill’s shot deflected off the leg of Owen Heary and looped over the head of Brian Murphy.

The home side had Stuart Byrne sent-off in the 85th minute for a second bookable offence, before Brennan’s last-gasp penalty grabbed all three points, lifting the Gypsies up to second place in the Premier Division and maintaining their 100% away record in the league. This was Drogheda’s third league defeat in seven and leaves them eight points adrift of leaders St Patrick’s Athletic.

Bohs made just one change from the side which drew at home to Bray last weekend, with Brennan replacing Stephen O’Donnell on the left side of midfield. Paul Doolin made three changes to the side which trounced Dungannon Swifts in midweek with Eamon Zayed, Shane Robinson and Stuart Byrne coming in for Adam Hughes, Richie Baker and Tony Grant.

Chances were few and far between in an evenly contested opening half hour. Eamon Zayed and Shane Robinson went closest for the hosts while the best Bohs could muster was two weak shots from distance, first from Brennan and then John Paul Kelly.

The first half seemed destined to end scoreless before Brennan conjured up a moment of magic. Jason Gavin was adjudged to have fouled Jason Byrne on the edge of the area and Brennan whipped the resulting free-kick over the wall and into the postage stamp corner.

Bohs almost doubled their advantage immediately after the restart. Brennan lobbed a high ball into the area and Byrne out-jumped Jamie Ewings in the Drogheda goal, but steered his header narrowly wide.

Bohs were dominating and carved out another good chance on 54 minutes. Brennan swung in a dangerous free-kick from the left and Liam Burns’ header from 12-yards forced Ewings in to a fine save. Burns then turned provider moments late when he flicked Mark Rossiter’s through ball into the path of Byrne, but he blazed over from ten yards.

Bohs were made to pay for their profligacy in-front of goal when Drogheda grabbed a fortuitous equaliser after 72 minutes. Cahill’s shot across goal from the left side of the box took a wicked deflection off Heary and looped into the net.

Drogheda’s Stuart Byrne was then sent-off for a second bookable offence, before Brennan grabbed his second of the game from the penalty spot with a nonchalant chip after Glen Crowe was tripped by Ewings.

Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Brian Shelley, Graham Gartland, Jason Gavin, Ollie Cahill; Shane Robinson, Stuart Byrne, Paul Keegan, Joe Kendrick (Adam Hughes 90); Aidan O'Keefe (Ibrahima Thiam Iyane 53), Eamon Zayed (Declan O’Brien (65).
Subs not used: Mikko Vilmunen, Shane Barrett.

Booked: Gavin, Keegan, S Byrne, O'Keefe, Robinson.
Sent off: S Byrne (85).

Bohemians: Brian Murphy; Owen Heary, Liam Burns, Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell (Stephen O'Donnell 70); Mark Rossiter, John Paul Kelly, Glenn Cronin, Killian Brennan; Glen Crowe, Jason Byrne (Neale Fenn (80).
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Ken Oman, Chris Turner.

Booked: Cronin (21), Brennan (45), Crowe (70), O'Donnell (75),

Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 2,500 (estimate)
Man of the match: Killian Brennan (Bohemians).