Hi °C | Lo °C Drogheda United 2 Derry City 1: Despite the dream start of a goal after just a minute, Derry slumped to their third defeat in eight days in Drogheda on Monday night.
David McDaid fired Derry ahead from the penalty spot after he had been hauled down in the box by Alan McNally who was lucky to only receive a yellow card for the challenge.
The lead, though, lasted just 24 minutes as the home side hit back in exactly the same manner, Declan O’Brien scoring his second spot kick in as many games after Ryan Brennan was brought down by Shane McEleney.
That goal had come slightly against the run of play but having scored Drogheda began to look the more likely winners.
They took the lead three minutes from half-time when McNally got on the end of a Brennan ball into the box and, unmarked, the defender slipped it past Gerard Doherty.
O’Brien might have had a second on the hour mark but for the crossbar getting in the way and then Doherty just managed to scoop the ball from the goal line after Peter Hynes had headed the rebound back towards goal.
Having started the game with only one recognised striker in McDaid, Derry gave Mark Farren a run out for the last 20 minutes in the hope of an equaliser.
But the Donegal man’s indifferent form in front of goal continued as he wasted two good opportunities.
Drogheda United: Sava, Gannon, Hand, McNally, Prendergast, R Brennan, Crowley, Foley, Hynes, O’Brien. Subs: S Brennan, Marks, Mulvenna, Quigley, Schlingermann, Sullivan.
Derry City: Doherty, Bonner, Madden, McCaffrey, S McEleny, McNamee, Brolly, Higgins, P McEleney, Molloy, McDaid. Subs: Curran, Deery, Duffy, Farren, Ferry, Rooney.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Dublin).
