Spot-on Drogheda United add to Derry City's cup torment with dramatic Brandywell win

Irish Independent

16 hours ago

(after extra time, Drogs won 3-0 on pens)
Drogheda United's love affair with the Sports Direct FAI Cup will last for at least a little while longer thanks to the defending champions' dramatic penalty shootout win over old foes Derry City at The Brandywell late on Saturday night.
The Boynesiders led for two-thirds of this enthralling contest but then conceded to a superb strike by Michael Duffy and had to dig deep in the latter stages and in extra time. But having survived a few anxious moments, including a disallowed goal in the 114th minute, Kevin Doherty's men regrouped and sent last year's beaten finalists packing again - this time on spot kicks.
The Drogs caught Derry cold by scoring inside two minutes. Having sent all their big men forward for a free kick, Shane Farrell instead played the ball down the left channel for Josh Thomas who ghosted past Adam O'Reilly and crossed to the near post for Andrew Quinn who repeated his 2024 final heroics by scoring with a neat near-post finish.
Derry were all at sea in the early stages and nearly conceded again in the fifth minute when Thomas ran onto a Warren Davis head-flick and burst away from half-way, only to slice well wide.
Davis then intercepted a poor pass by Mark Connolly and linked up with Farrell and Darragh Markey whose goal attempt flashed just the wrong side of the upright.
Derry improved after that and Gavin Whyte tested Luke Dennison from distance before Dipo Akinyemi hit a good strike with minimal backlift that the keeper had to tip over the bar.
Farrell and James Bolger made important blocks as The Candystripes continued to hold the upper hand, but Drogheda looked dangerous on the break and on the stroke of half-time a goal-bound Markey effort struck Connolly in a crowded penalty area.
Doherty's side bossed the early stages of the second period, with the feet-footed Thomas causing all sorts of problems for the home defence, but next to have a shot on goal was Conor Keeley whose effort was pushed round the post by Derry netminder Brian Maher.
Home boss Tiernan Lynch responded with a quadruple change just before the hour mark and instantly Derry were transformed.
Dennison fumbled a Ronan Boyce effort before a defender scrambled the loose ball clear, Akinyemi was denied by Keeley as he lined up a shot and Dennison turned a stinging Liam Boyce effort around the post.
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Drogheda almost doubled their lead in the 69th minute when Markey floated in a free kick towards Ryan Brennan whose firm header was superbly pushed away by Maher. Quinn was next to be denied by the keeper from a hooked effort, but seconds after that chance the ball was in the net at the other end.
The fact that Brennan was lying injured near the half-way line was undoubtedly a factor as play continued down the right flank and Danny Mullen squared the ball to Duffy who took one touch before arrowing a powerful shot into the top corner for 1-1.
Drogheda did have a couple of chances to restore their lead - a poor touch by sub Thomas Oluwa denied him a shooting opportunity and Markey was just off target with a 20-yard effort - but Derry looked the more like to score as Liam Boyce (twice) and Duffy both missed the target and Mullen had another effort deflected wide.
Dennison came up with more heroics in extra time, saving from Mullen, Adam O'Reilly and notably Ronan Boyce whose close-range header seemed certain to go in, while sub John O'Sullivan wasted Drogheda's best chance with a sliced shot.
In a chaotic finish a Connolly goal was chalked off for a foul on Dennison and Duffy had claims for a penalty waved away, with Ben Doherty talking his way into a straight red card for his protests.
Ultimately, though, it came down to spot kicks and Dennison saved from both Jamie Stoff and Mullen either side of Adam Frizzell's effort which rose over the bar. Keeley and Oluwa scored their kicks and so when Owen Lambe converted his kick past Maher the celebrations in the away end could begin.
Derry City: Maher 7, O'Reilly 7, Bannon 7 (Doherty 58min, 4), Connolly 7, Stott 7, Fleming 7 (R Boyce 58min, 8); Diallo 6 (L Boyce 58min, 8; Todd 102min, 6), Winchester 7; Whyte 7 (Mullen 58, 7), Duffy 8; Akinyemi 7 (Frizzell 92, 6). Subs not used: Ferguson, Cann, Doherty.
Drogheda Utd: Dennison 9, Bolger 8 (Cooper 71min, 7), Keeley 8, Quinn 8; Lambe 8, Brennan 8 (O'Sullivan 98min, 7), Farrell 7 (Heeney 65min, 7); Kane 7 (Cruise 98min, 7); Markey 7; Davis 7 (Kareem 95min, 7), Thomas 8 (Oluwa 71, 7). Subs not used: Harper-Bailey, Cardo, J Brady.
Attendance: 2,000 (est)