Derry rescue late point against Drogs
Dom Thomas' scored first goal for Derry City in the 90th minute against Drogheda United. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Tiernan Lynch had one of his substitutes to thank for the point his team took away from Sullivan & Lambe Park as Dom Thomas’ first Derry City goal earned them a late point away to Drogheda United.
The clock had just entered the 90th minute of play when Thomas struck a speculative effort from range that Drogheda goalkeeper Luke Dennison looked to have covered.
However, a huge deflection off Ryan Brennan saw the ball divert course and trickle into the far corner of the net with Dennison stranded. Brennan was the late hero in United’s last home game but the tables had turned here.
Elicha Ahui had earlier given Drogheda the lead. His 41st minute header from Owen Lambe’s corner was his third goal in the claret-and-blue and his second against Derry.
The on-loan defender, who’s parent club Walsall earned a place in the League Two playoff final last night, was also player of the match in last year’s FAI Cup final that day. He totally mitigated Michael Duffy’s threat Along with Lambe, the same was true this time. Derry struggled to cause Drogheda problems for much of the match and United were deserving of their half time lead.
It could have been more. Thomas Oluwa had two opportunities to double their lead but he could take neither. On the day manager Kevin Doherty committed his future to the club, they couldn’t seal the deal on the pitch.
That allowed substitute Thomas, who had earlier replaced winger Gavin Whyte, the chance to shoot his shot. In trying manfully to block, Brennan only ended up helping it in the net.
Drogheda have now just one win in seven and drop to fifth in this ever so tight Premier Division. Monday’s match against champions Shelbourne who sit in sixth takes on major significance.
Dennison; Ahui, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Brennan, Heeney, Conor Kane; Davis (Bosakani, 88); James-Taylor (Brady, 75), Oluwa.
Maher; Cann, Connolly, Holt; Harkin (Mullen, 46), O’Reilly, Benson, Todd; Whyte (Thomas, 68), Boyce (Hoban, 73), Duffy (McMullan, 68).
Kevin O’Sullivan
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