Stephen Walsh was the Galway United match-winner on an evening where the goals flowed for the Tribesman, even if they had to wait until very late in the day to seal the points in dramatic fashion.
Walsh struck in the 94th minute, after Maurice Nugent's header had levelled the game thirty seconds into injury-time.
FULL MATCH DETAILS
Only once this season had Galway scored two goals in a game. Here was three – it was heady stuff for the 60-odd supporters who made the journey to the east coast. They had only conceded two goals on one prior occasion too.
John Caulfield’s team at least showed they are capable of finding a goal when the pressure is on. They had managed just eight in 15 games. Three was beyond the wildest dreams of most supporters. No one, of home or away affiliation, was expected a thriller.
Whatever the outcome, Drogheda’s night would be marred by Warren Davis having to be stretchered off as the first half came to a close. He required 10 minutes of assessment before being stretched off and brought to the adjacent Our Lady of Loudes Hospital.
His team-mates and the 1,697 crowd watched on fearful. Late reports indicate the Republic of Ireland Under-19 international was sitting up watching the game and is in good health.
Rob Slevin’s early header – although replays suggested the ball hit his shoulder – gave Galway the lead but they invited Drogheda on to them from that point onwards.
Darragh Markey should have equalised but pulled a shot wide, but the midfielder redeemed himself with a box-to-box run which led to the free-kick, from which Evan Weir struck.
The left-back is bound for Walsall next month but Drogheda will miss his dead ball prowess. He beat Brendan Clarke low to the goalkeeper’s right with the set-piece.
The veteran Clarke was the busier of the two goalkeepers as the game wore on, saving twice from Weir in quick succession. Zishim Bawa, the substitute, found the top corner with a first-time strike to put the hosts in control once again.
They relinquished it, however. United failed twice to deal with a deep cross lofted into the area as the clocked ticked into overtime. Walsh kept the ball alive, Nugent headed beyond Andrew Wogan.
Things were getting nervy at the back and despite the introduction of Jack Keaney to shore things up, Galway pressed.
After Nugent let fly from distance, Walsh followed it in and his sidefooted effort flew past the goalkeeper. Cue delirium in the modest away contingent.
Drogheda United: Andrew Wogan; Luke Heeney, Andrew Quinn, Hayden Cann, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan; Adam Foley (Jack Keaney, 81), Darragh Markey (Oisin Gallagher, 87), Warren Davis (Zishim Bawa, 45+6); Frantz Pierrot.
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Esua; Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Al-Amin Kazeem (Leonardo Gaxha, 89), Patrick Hickey (Maurice Nugent, 46), Conor McCormack (Garry Buckley, 46), Karl O’Sullivan (Aodh Dervin, 63), David Hurley (Francely Lombato, 78), Edward McCarthy (Wassim Aouachria, 78); Stephen Walsh.
Referee: Declan Toland
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