Ten-man Drogheda United held on to force Dundalk to a replay as the sides played out a 1-1 draw in the FAI Ford Cup Fourth Round at United Park on Friday evening. Dave Rogers’ early strike gave the home side the lead and they could have extended their advantage in a bright opening, while Mark Quigley hit the bar at the other end. The game took a twist on half-time when Daniel Kearns supplied a brilliant through-ball for Mark Griffin who was fouled by Stephen Quigley, the ex-Lilywhite defender dismissed and his namesake coolly converting from the spot. Dundalk, however, could not press home that man advantage in the second half, with the sides set for a replay at Oriel Park on Tuesday evening.
Early opener
Dundalk manager Ian Foster made just one change to the team that drew with Bray Wanderers seven days earlier, and it was an enforced one as the injured Stephen Maher was replaced by Dean Bennett, who was making his first start in midfield since Drogheda recorded a 2-1 win at Oriel Park on 10 June. The first chance came after just two minutes. After a Greg Bolger free-kick was headed behind, Ross Gaynor’s dangerous delivery fell to Colin Hawkins at the back post but his low shot was saved by Robert Duggan. However, Drogheda launched their first attack moments later, and from it came the lead goal. The initial cross-cum-shot from Daniel Corcoran was going in but Peter Cherrie pushed it away, only for the second delivery to be punched by the Scot into the path of Rogers who lashed the ball home from the edge of the box.
Woodwork
Drogheda smelt blood and Cherrie had to be alert seconds later as he denied Mark O’Brien’s shot from the right of the box, the Dundalk No1 getting down and holding well. It could have been 2-0 within moments. Tiarnán Mulvenna found himself in acres of space behind the Dundalk defence but he took his time before pulling the ball back for O’Brien whose shot was brilliantly blocked behind by Bolger. Dundalk’s first chance arrived on 12 minutes when Griffin showed good control just inside the area but after turning smartly his shot was easy for Duggan. On the quarter-hour mark, the visitors went within inches of levelling the tie as Griffin beat Rogers and fed Kearns on the right, his cross finding Quigley whose shot came back off the bar and away to safety. Another chance came shortly after as Dundalk found their feet, Gaynor attacking down the left and crossing for Quigley but Duggan did just enough to put the striker off.
Chances
On 23 minutes, Drogheda could have again doubled their advantage as hesitation between Cherrie and Simon Madden presented Gavin Brennan with a chance but his shot was cleared off the line by Carl McHugh. Four minutes later, Cherrie was called on again as Brian Gannon ran unchallenged and laid a pass into the path of Corcoran whose powerful low shot was blocked by Cherrie, before the following passage of play presented Mulvenna with a chance but he totally mis-kicked from a great position in the box as Dundalk survived. Past the half-hour mark, Dundalk put together a superb passage of play involving Quigley, Kearns and Gaynor, the latter’s low cross stopped, just, by Duggan, with Griffin sniffing. Quigley then tried his luck from range but it didn’t dip in time. On 40 minutes, it could have been 2-0 when Philip Hand’s free-kick was headed back across goal by Gannon, with Brennan’s header going just wide.
Turning point
Hawkins then headed a corner into the arms of Duggan, before Bennett played a nice ball out to Gaynor but after controlling well his tame shot went wide. The game, however, turned on the stroke of half-time as Kearns’ delightful through-ball found Griffin and he was taken down by Stephen Quigley, who was sent-off as referee Damien Hancock pointed to the spot. Dundalk’s Quigley remained cool to fire home, and the Lilywhites could have been in front at the break but Quigley’s scissor kick went wide. On 50 minutes, Dundalk attacked in numbers and Kearns’ low cross was attacked by Griffin whose shot went wide, though the linesman’s flag was raised in any case. On 57 minutes, a brilliant tackle by Bennett kept Dundalk’s attack going, with a one-two with Quigley and Kearns seeing the latter break into the box but he was outnumbered and the danger was cleared.
Replay
Both sides were willing to attack in search of a lead goal, substitute Keith Ward driving over from the edge of the box on 74 minutes. Hawkins then again headed into the hands of Duggan after the centre-half had got up to meet Madden’s cross from the right. With five minutes remaining, Nathan Murphy’s cross found Quigley whose volley on the turn in the end went well wide. In the final minute of normal time, after pressure from the visitors, Bolger shot well over from 30-yards. In the dying seconds of injury-time, Hawkins again had a headed opportunity but from 15-yards his effort was saved easily by Duggan, with the sides now having to do it all over again back at Oriel Park on Tuesday evening.
DROGHEDA UNITED FC: Robert Duggan, Stephen Quigley, Alan McNally, Dave Rogers ©, Philip Hand, Mark O’Brien, Brian Gannon, Lee Lynch, Gavin Brennan, Daniel Corcoran (Jordan White 81), Tiarnán Mulvenna.
Goal: D Rogers (5).
Booked: A McNally (54).
Sent-Off: S Quigley (45).
Unused Subs: Steven Trimble (GK), Cillian Thompson, Jack Reynolds, Robbie Gaul, Seán Challenger.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie, Simon Madden ©, Colin Hawkins, Carl McHugh, Nathan Murphy, Daniel Kearns, Dean Bennett (Keith Ward 66), Greg Bolger, Ross Gaynor, Mark Quigley, Mark Griffin (Jason Byrne 66).
Goal: M Quigley (45+1 pen).
Booked: G Bolger (62), N Murphy (84).
Unused Subs: Craig Hanlon (GK), Johnny Breen, Cian Byrne, Philip Duffy.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
