Johnny Breen’s fifth-minute goal was enough to end Dundalk’s five-game losing streak as they defeated Drogheda United 1-0 in the Louth Derby at Oriel Park on Friday night, in their final home game of the season. A much changed Dundalk side made a bright start and hit the decisive goal when Breen broke through and coolly finished to the net. In a game of few clear-cut chances, the hosts kept that lead and rarely looked threatened. That was until the final ten minutes when the returning Peter Cherrie brilliantly denied substitute Jordan White, while Dundalk could have added another in injury-time but Keith Ward and Mark Quigley found the ‘keeper and the post in the way respectively.
A Photo Gallery courtesy of Nigel Caldwell can be viewed here.
Early strike
Dundalk manager Ian Foster made five changes to the side that fell to a 2-0 defeat by Derry City a fortnight earlier as Cherrie, Colin Hawkins, Carl McHugh, Dean Bennett and Greg Bolger all returned to the starting lineup. That quintet replaced Paul Murphy, Nathan Murphy, Ross Gaynor, Jason Byrne and Chris Reilly. And a different-look home side hit the front after just five minutes when Breen, after breaking a poor offside trap, latched onto Quigley’s through-ball and calmly chipped the ‘keeper on the edge of the box before firing in. Drogheda protested at the linesman’s decision, Gavin Brennan booked for his part. Chances were scarce in the opening exchanges, Cherrie doing well just past the quarter-hour as he raced to the edge of the box to head clear as Tiarnán Mulvenna threatened to sneak in.
Breen close
The next chance did not arrive until the 26th minute, as Brennan’s through-ball was latched onto by Mulvenna but his shot from the left of the area went over the bar, with Cherrie appearing to have it well covered. On the half-hour mark, Dundalk launched a superb attack from defence, involving Bennett, Quigley and Breen, the latter’s defence-splitting ball over the top perfect for Bolger but he could only flick it into the grateful arms of visiting No1 Stephen Trimble. Before the break, a Drogheda corner fell to Daniel Corcoran whose drilled shot was blocked, the calls for a handball waved away. In first-half injury-time, Dundalk fans thought their side had doubled their advantage when Stephen McDonnell’s ball found its way through to Breen who waited for it to drop before he lobbed an effort that went just over.
Cherrie stop
On 50 minutes, Lee Lynch played a neat pass through to Mulvenna but his shot was brilliantly blocked behind by Cian Byrne, as Drogheda made a brighter start to the second half. Past the hour mark, Dundalk broke with pace following a Drogheda corner, Bennett playing captain Simon Madden down the right, and his cross was perfect for Ward but his touch allowed the ball to go through to Trimble. On 83 minutes, Drogheda were almost on level terms as Mulvenna and substitute White combined but Cherrie pulled off a superb save from the latter, with Mulvenna’s follow-up gathered. Seconds later, Cian Byrne almost put through his own goal as his back-pass went past his ‘keeper but luckily it ran wide. Dundalk could have added a late second but Trimble pushed away a tremendous effort from Ward before Quigley was denied by the post.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie, Simon Madden ©, Colin Hawkins, Cian Byrne, Carl McHugh, Stephen McDonnell (Jason Byrne 62), Dean Bennett, Greg Bolger, Keith Ward, Mark Quigley, Johnny Breen (Nathan Murphy 85).
Goal: J Breen (5).
Booked: S McDonnell (47).
Unused Subs: Paul Murphy (GK), Philip Duffy, Conor McDonald, Bob McKenna, Ben McLaughlin.
DROGHEDA UNITED FC: Stephen Trimble, Robbie Gaul (Connor O’Keefe 71), Alan McNally, Dave Rogers ©, Philip Hand, Brian Gannon (Mark O’Brien HT), Stephen Quigley, Lee Lynch, Gavin Brennan, Daniel Corcoran (Jordan White 80), Tiarnán Mulvenna.
Booked: G Brennan (6).
Unused Subs: Shane Finnegan (GK), Seán Challenger, Robbie Clarke, Shane Fitzgerald.
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
Attendance: 700.
