Drogs claim the points as Lynch's Derry falter once more

Kevin Doherty’s Drogheda United extended their fine recent run against this opposition with a narrow victory against all the odds.

Drogheda United's Ryan Brennan celebrates scoring a penalty. Pic: Laszlo Gecz/Inpho

Premier Division: Drogheda United 1-0 Derry City

Drogheda United piled further pressure on Derry City boss Tiernan Lynch as Kevin Doherty’s side extended their fine recent run against this opposition with a narrow victory against all the odds.

Ryan Brennan has spent much of the season on the sidelines as close-season recruits Ethan O’Brien and Jago Godden have been selected ahead of him. Drogheda can’t rely on Brennan forever, of course, and Kevin Doherty will be cognizant of that.

But the Drogheda manager has turned back to the club captain in recent weeks and they have now won three of their last four games with the local hero in their engine room.

His penalty – won when Jamie Stott was judged to have fouled Warren Davis – was the midfielder’s first league goal of the season. Brennan is a reliable sort in these kinds of situations and proved it again.

Derry were utterly dominant in the first half, with United barely mustering a kick, let alone a chance at goal. 

But the Candystripes, for all their dominance, failed to carve out the opportunities their superiority warranted. Adam O’Reilly’s shot was narrowly off target and Shane Farrell headed Patrick McClean’s goalbound header off the line.

The second half exploded into life when Flynn Talley made a double save from Conor Barr before Drogheda won a penalty almost instantly at the other end.

From that point onwards, it was a question of whether Derry could force themselves back into the game. Coming into the match with a six-game unbeaten streak, that record was under severe threat when ex-Derry man Brandon Kavanagh forced Edward Beach into a save.

The away side did come close in the end. Substitute Henry Rylah’s shot from distance beat Talley but cannoned off the crossbar and into the goalkeeper’s arms. 

It is just two wins in 12 games for a Derry side now way, way off the pace at the top.

Drogheda United: Talley; Agbaje, Bolger, Keeley, Kane; Farrell, Brennan (Godden, 72); Davis, Kavanagh (Quinn, 89), Oluwa; Doyle (Bucknor, 68).

Derry City: Beach; Barr (Dummigan, 85), Stott, McClean, Fleming; Winchester, O’Reilly (Thomas, 90+2); Dos Santos (Rylah, 70), Markey (Cotter, 70), Duffy (Akinyemi, 70); Clarke.

Referee: Arnold Hunter