- Gerard Grimes
- Sat, May 06 2017
Two goals in injury time from Drogheda’s Adam Wixted and Galway’s Jesse Devers resulted in a 2-2 draw at United Park.
Drogheda went close to taking the lead in the first minute. Gavin Brennan played the ball down the line to Elliott who managed to keep the ball in play before playing it back to Brennan.
Brennan cut back and passed to Hyland who took a touch and shot but his effort was well saved by Conor Winn.
Minutes later, a mix up at the back between Stephen Folan and David Cawley resulted in a scramble in the six-yard box that ended with Drogheda's Stephen Elliott firing over the bar.
Drogheda took the lead after ten minutes as Jake Hyland ran clear of several Galway players and played the ball to Wixted. Wixted skipped past the challenge of Marc Ludden and let fly from 25 yards with his effort ending up in the bottom corner past the stationary Winn.
A long throw from Marc Ludden finds Ronan Murray but his low effort his easily gathered by McGuinness.
Marc Griffin loses the ball allowing Gavan Holohan to play it out wide to Ronan Murray. Murray beats McGuigan and Kane but his shot lacked power and was again saved easily by McGuinness.
Drogheda next chance after Wixted’s goal came on 25 minutes. A great run from Elworthy ended with him crossing towards Griffin. The ball instead fell to Gavin Brennan on the edge of the box but his first-time volley rose over the bar.
Galway continued to be the better side for the remainder of the half but failed to properly test McGuinness in the Drogheda goal.
The visitors should have levelled four minutes after the restart. A Kevin Devaney corner was met by Lee Grace but his header was cleared off the line by his own teammate, Stephen Folan.
Drogheda woke up somewhat after that chance and nearly doubled their lead on the hour mark. Elliott played in Wixted who shot low but Winn got down well to save.
The home side had a penalty appeals waved away on 65 minutes after Conor Kane went down in the box under the challenge of a Galway defender.
Ronan Murray was at the centre of everything for Galway on the night and he almost levelled after 66 minutes but his effort, which he attempted to bend it into the far corner went just wide.
Drogheda almost doubled their lead on 77 minutes as they hit Galway on the counter but a superb block by Marc Ludden denied Richie Purdy.
Galway found a deserved equaliser eight minutes from time thanks to substitute Padraic Cunningham who fired the ball low past the helpless McGuinness.
Drogheda hit the front in the 90th minute as they again hit Galway on the counter attack. This time Sean Brennan squared the ball to Wixted who slotted home for his second of the game.
Galway would however manage to find an equaliser again as a long ball into the box from the restart found Jesse Devers, sliding in at the back post, to make it 2-2.
Drogheda United: Stephen McGuinness; Shane Elworthy, Luke Gallagher (c), Ciaran McGuigan, Conor Kane; Adam Wixted, Richie Purdy, Jake Hyland, Gavin Brennan; Marc Griffin (Gareth McCaffrey 73), Stephen Elliott (Sean Brennan 73).
Unused Subs: Ryan Coulter (gk), Stephen Dunne, Kevin Farragher, Jamie Hollywood, Thomas Byrne.
Booked: Jake Hyland (59).
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan (c), Lee Grace, Stephen Folan, Mark Ludden; Gary Shanahan (Conor Melody 68), Gavan Holohan, David Cawley, Kevin Devaney; Vinny Faherty (Padraic Cunningham 68), Ronan Murray (Jesse Devers 88).
Unused Subs: Ciaran Nugent (gk), Paul Sinnott, Alex Byrne, Aaron Conway.
Booked: Ronan Murray (83).
Referee: Jim McKell
Attendance: 700 (estimate).
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Adam Wixted (Drogheda United).
