Stalemate between Drogheda and Dundalk in Louth derby

STALEMATE: Drogheda and Dundalk played out a nil all draw in their final game of the season. Picture: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Drogheda 0 Dundalk 0

This game might have been one of the games of the season. It certainly had the potential to be the most consequential Louth derby ever. It wasn’t to be though and this curtain closer to the league season won’t live long in the memory.

For already relegated Dundalk, pride was all that was at stake at Weavers Park. Their travelling fans will miss this fixture. In a Premier division dominated by Dublin derbies, the meeting of the two Louth teams four times a year was always hard fought and often memorable.

That could be said to be true of the former but not the latter on this occasion. A scoreless stalemate was enjoyed more so by the majority of the 2,030 attendance, who have an FAI Cup final to look forward to next weekend.

With that game in mind, Kevin Doherty decided not to make changes to his often-preferred starting team. Frantz Pierrot had not played since picking up a hamstring injury against Wexford 26 days earlier. 45 minutes in his legs was much needed.

An even first half was probably shaded by Dundalk. In his last game in charge, Jon Daly saw Sean Keogh flash a low drive just wide. Aodh Dervin that had a header drop just wide of the upright.

Douglas James-Taylor had United’s best effort of the game, but it didn’t require a save from Ross Munro. Adam Foley’s shot after the break was deflected harmlessly wide.

Eoin Kenny – one of the shining lights in a season shrouded in darkness for the 14-time league champions -almost provided a match winning moment late on but his attempt came off the crossbar. Andrew Wogan, on as a substitute in his farewell match for the Drogs before departing for Stockport County, had a clean sheet to savour.

Drogheda United: Dennison (Wogan, 46); Quinn, Harper-Bailey, Bolger; Ahui, Brennan (Deegan, 66), Farrell, Heeney; Markey (Davis, 67); Pierrot (Foley, 46), James-Taylor (Kane, 77).

Dundalk: Munro; Mountney, Animasahun, Cann, Keogh; Dervin (Keane, 73), Oostenbrink (Molloy, 83); Horgan, Hakiki (Mulligan, 73), Mahon (O’Kane, 66); Kenny.

Referee: Damien MacGraith