Brennan beauty sinks Drogheda

Drogheda United 0 Bohemians 1

A first-half strike from the livewire winger proved sufficient as the Gypsies reignited their title challenge and inflicted a ninth defeat from 11 matches on Drogheda.

The visitors were dominant in the early stages and only for Drogs netminder Stephen Trimble they would have been ahead on 13 minutes.

Brennan’s cross picked out Anto Flood and his firm header was clawed away by the former Shelbourne stopper.

Bohs were ahead on 31 minutes when Brennan drifted across the edge of the penalty box before blasting a fine shot past Trimble.

Three minutes later left-back Ger O’Brien’s free-kick was tipped over by the Drogheda keeper.

The visitors were unlucky not to double their advantage when O’Brien teed up Brennan to crack a curling left-foot shot off the post.

The one-way traffic continued after the break as Stephen Traynor volleyed over the Drogheda crossbar and Robert Bayly chipped straight into the arms of Trimble.

The Gypsies looked comfortable for the final half-hour but couldn’t conjure another goal and nearly paid the price on 86 minutes when a Drogheda free-kick was flicked on to Dinny Corcoran whose shot was partially blocked before being scrambled to safety.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, Nolan, McNally, Ekanem, Hand; Gannon, Quigley (Skelly, 49), McCrossan (Flynn, 56), M O’Brien; Freeman (Corcoran, 78), Hanaphy.

BOHEMIANS: O’Connor; Heary, Burns, Price, O’Brien; Buckley, Bayly, Rossiter, Brennan; Flood, Traynor. Sub: Forrester for Traynor (90min).

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).