Jon Daly guided St Patrick's Athletic to cup glory in front of 44,000 people at the Aviva Stadium eight months ago. His involvement in this years competition ended in more inauspicious surroundings in front of just 2,280 at Weavers Park.
Whilst Daly enjoyed success in his first Louth derby last week, he couldn’t help his team repeat the trick as rivalries were renewed for the second time in a week by the river Boyne.
James Bolger, making his debut at centre back for Drogheda, scored his team’s first and Warren Davis added a second after the break. That rendered Bobby Faulkner’s injury time header a mere consolation in the end.
Tensions were high and security was plentiful as a major Garda operation was in place following the violent clashes between supporters on the Oriel Park pitch last week. These scenes were condemned by both clubs and the League of Ireland.
There was no such repeat here. More violence would have been disastrous for the league and damning for the clubs involved. This game will be remembered, more fondly by United supporters anyway, for the football.
Indicative of the level of turnover both sides have seen in the last three weeks, there were a combined 14 new arrivals in the matchday squads for this resumption of the derby hostilities. Five began the game for Drogheda, four for the visitors.
One of those was Bolger, who signed for the club last week from Swedish fourth tier side Bodens after a lengthy trial. He was deployed at centre half as Kevin Doherty changed tact to a lesser seen 3-5-2 shape.
They had shipped 13 goals in their previous four games so a change isn’t all that surprising in that context. They defended their box well throughout to their credit.
Bolger opened the scoring 16 minutes in. He met Luke Heeney’s cross from the left first time and while he did well to connect, Dundalk goalkeeper Felix Goddard should gave easily kept it out.
Instead, the on-loan Blackburn Rovers youngster neither caught the ball or put it out. He and ball ended up in a tangle in the net.
Good chances were at a premium for both teams after that, yet the game was played at a frenetic pace. Both sides wanted this derby fought, and settled, on the pitch. As it should be.
Dundalk gifted Drogheda a second when failing to deal with Luke Dennison’s goal kick. They et it bounce in their own area and Davis, only on the field mere moments, finished well.
The hosts looked comfortable after that until Faulkner’s header, which again came from a direct ball forward. Dundalk could have nicked a draw late on, but the Drogs held on. Daly will have to wait another year to reacquaint himself with this competition.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn, David Webster, James Bolger (Jack Keaney, 80); Elicha Ahui, Luke Heeney, Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell (Warren Davis, 70), Conor Kane; Frantz Pierrot (Adam Foley, 65), Douglas James-Taylor.
Dundalk: Felix Goddard; John Mountney, Bobby Faulkner, Mayowa Animasahun, Sean Keogh (Norman Garbett, 67); Robert Benson (Cameron Elliott, 83), Scott McGill; Daryl Horgan, Jad Hakiki (Aodh Dervin, 67), Ryan O’Kane (Eoin Kenny, 76); Jamie Gullan (Daniel Pike, 83).
Referee: Damien MacGraith
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