Kelly denies Drogs first win

DROGHEDA United are still waiting for their first league win of the season after Sean Kelly’s second-half strike rescued a point for Galway at Hunky Dorys Park last night.

Sean Connor kept faith in the Galway side narrowly beaten by Sligo Rovers last week, but his counterpart Mick Cooke made five changes from the side thrashed by Shamrock Rovers, three of them at the back, where Stephen Trimble was given the nod ahead of David Quirke in goal.

The game’s first chance fell to the visitors when Bobby Ryan threaded a pass through to Joseph Yoffe whose tame shot was easily gathered by Trimble.

But it was Drogheda who took advantage of their first opportunity with a well-worked goal. Mark Nolan and Mark O’Brien worked the ball wide to David Freeman who stepped inside his marker and crossed low to the near post where Philip Hand steered the ball beyond keeper Greg Fleming.

Only for Fleming, Galway would have found themselves 2-0 down after 12 minutes as the keeper saved well to his left when Brian Gannon headed Hand’s corner towards goal.

But the Tribesmen gradually settled into the game and it took a fine block by Gannon to deny Brian Cash.

The visitors forced six corners in the first half alone and should have made one of them count on 40 minutes when Karl Moore’s kick found Sean Kelly completely unmarked inside the six-yard box, but his header flew over the crossbar.

Drogheda’s only other clear opportunity of the half came when Fleming advanced from his goal and fumbled Gareth Whelan’s cross into the path of Stephen McCrossan, whose attempted chip to the empty net lacked sufficient height and the keeper saved easily.

After a scrappy start to the second half, it was the visitors who got back on level terms on 52 minutes when Shaun Kelly made ground down the right flank and delivered a cross which took a deflection into the path of his namesake Sean Kelly. He made no mistake with a powerful drive beyond Trimble.

Chances were few and far between after that, although the momentum was still with Galway and on 71 minutes substitute Enda Curran engineered a half-chance for himself 18 yards out, only to drag his shot wide.

Five minutes from time Stephen Walsh headed in a free kick for Galway but the referee’s assistant flagged for offside and the visitors’ celebrations were cut short.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Trimble, Nolan, Gannon, Ekanem, Whelan; M O’Brien, Quigley, McCrossan, Hand; Freeman, Hanaphy. Subs: C O’Brien for Freeman (68min), Flynn for M O’Brien (73min), McNamara for Quigley (82min).

GALWAY UNITED: Fleming, Shaun Kelly, Maher, Sinnott, Walsh; Cash, Sean Kelly, Murphy, Moore; Ryan, Yoffe. Subs: Duci for Murphy (22min), E Curran for Yoffe (53min), Keogh for Ryan (80min).

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).