Latest news with #ElichaAhui
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Keeley clinches point for Drogs at Waterford
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division WATERFORD FC 2 DROGHEDA UNITED 2 Conor Keeley rescued an unlikely share of the spoils for Drogheda United as Waterford FC's inability to defend set pieces came back to haunt them deep into second-half injury-time in their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at the RSC. After Blues skipper Padraig Amond thought that he had won the game with an 81st-minute finish, the visitors had the final laugh in added time when the central defender hammered home from close-range when he was left unmarked at the back post to meet a Darragh Markey corner-kick. The Waterford front three combined for the breakthrough goal on 19 minutes. Conan Noonan slipped the ball into the feet of Amond, who in turn played the perfectly weighted pass for Tommy Lonergan, who beat keeper Luke Dennison with a deflected effort off Elicha Ahui from 14 yards. Drogheda were level from a set piece at the other end four minutes later. Shane Farrell sent in a left-wing corner-kick into the centre of the penalty area, and Warren Davis powered a simple close-range header to the far corner past a helpless Stephen McMullan. Davis was twice denied in a bid to give his side the lead on 40 minutes when Shane Farrell whipped in another dangerous left-wing corner that saw Conor Keeley send the ball back into the six-yard box for the striker, but after Rowan McDonald blocked his initial effort, he hooked the rebound just over. John Coleman's side got their noses in front on 81 minutes when Grant Horton sent over a right-wing cross that saw Elicha Ahui clear to Dean McMenamy, who saw his goalbound effort touched home by Padraig Amond past Luke Dennison. The leveller came three minutes into added time from another set piece. Darragh Markey swung over a right-wing corner-kick to the back post, where the unchallenged Conor Keeley blasted high to the roof of the net from close-range before Elicha Ahui was sent off late on for a second yellow card. WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Olayinka (McMenamy 77), Glenfield (McCormack 85), White; Lonergan (Pouwels 88), Amond, Noonan. DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison; Lambe (Cruise 61), Keeley, Quinn, Ahui, Kane; Heeney, Markey, Farrell (Bawa 77); Davis, Taylor (Oluwa 53) Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin). Attendance: 2241
Irish Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Honours even as Shelbourne drop more points at home to Drogheda United
A stalemate and another one for the queue to the treatment table - it was another tough night for reigning champions Shelbourne. They couldn't find a way past Drogheda United, whose second-half performance perhaps merited more than a point. But the visitors were thwarted by Shels' substitute goalkeeper Lorcan Healy, whose introduction on the half-hour was necessitated by an injury to Conor Kearns. Stretching in the 20th minute, the former Galway United man let an Elicha Ahui cross slip through his fingers, and an awkward landing meant he could only hobble, rather than chase after the ball, in his effort to prevent a corner. Kearns was deemed fit to continue after treatment, but lasted only 10 more minutes before Healy came on to replace him. Prior to that change, Shels had the best of a handful of goalmouth opportunities. But by the end, it was the visitors who looked more like scoring. Douglas James-Taylor and substitute Thomas Oluwa both went close, but Healy was equal to their efforts. Not bad for someone making his Premier Division debut a season-and-a-half into his Shels career. He looked far sharper than someone with just one FAI Cup appearance to his name since his move from UCD ahead of the 2024 campaign. Shels' early chance fell to Ellis Chapman, who put his foot through a James Norris knock-down and winced as his goalbound volley was blocked by Elicha Ahui. The follow-up by Evan Caffrey was nowhere near as well struck - a 20-yarder that the Shels man pulled well wide of goal. The best of the action was crammed into the time between Kearns' exit and the half-time whistle, with Harry Wood getting on the end of a hat-trick of chances. He cut across Drogheda defender Andrew Quinn for the first, an outstretched boot in the direction of Tyreke Wilson's cross from the left. It was the most difficult of his three opportunities and he could only manage to direct the ball a yard wide of the far post. Next up, he was allowed to advance towards the visiting penalty area. Accepting the invitation, the hero of Shels' title win in Derry last year let fly, but was thwarted by Drogheda keeper Luke Dennison, who got down quickly to pull the ball into his chest and away from Mipo Odubeko, who was hoping to capitalise on any spill. The best of Wood's three chances came three minutes before half-time, when he pulled away from Quinn and found himself in space to get on the end of Ellis Chapman's cross. Unfortunately for the former Hull City man, he fluffed his chance. It was neither a first touch nor a finish, as the ball bounced off his right boot and into the grateful Dennison's hands. There was more drama inside the five minutes of additional time. Warren Davis went down under a Tyreke Wilson challenge inside the Shels area, but referee Rob Hennessy waved away Drogheda's penalty appeal. And he did the same moments later at the other end when Odubeko went sprawling inside the visitors' 18-yard box. Drogheda had the better of the chances after the break, but sub keeper Healy earned his match fee with some fine stops. He got down well to his left to tip a James-Taylor effort from 20 yards around his post, while the Drogheda striker somehow blazed a free header from the resulting corner high and wide. A smart turn and shot from inside the Shels box on 84 minutes brought out the best in Healy, and the keeper then made a fine double save to keep out Oluwa and fellow substitute Darragh Markey in quick succession. Two late chances fell to the hosts, with Ryan O'Kane and Kameron Ledwidge both going close from distance.
The Irish Sun
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Derry City spoil the party at Drogheda United with last-minute equaliser to silence home support
DOM THOMAS was the Derry City hero as they snatched an unlikely draw in the 90th minute against Drogheda United. Elicha Ahui looked to have set the Drogs on the way to a victory on what was already a memorable day for the club. Advertisement United announced earlier on that Kevin Doherty had signed a two-year contract extension. The beloved boss is set to stay at the club until the end of the 2027 season. He might have his sights set on even more scalps against the Foylesiders in the next 2½ half years. They came mightily close to securing a fourth straight win against City until Thomas' first goal for his new club. Ahui especially likes playing against Derry. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football His last appearance against them was a man-of-the-match display in November's FAI Cup final. He has three Drogheda goals to his name and two of them have come against City. The first was the winner in a 1-0 victory at the Ryan McBride Bandywell two years ago. And he set Drogs on their way on home soil this time. Advertisement Most read in Football With regular set-piece taker Shane Farrell suspended, Owen Lambe was on corner duty. Ahui met his delivery from the right with a header in line with the front post. The on-loan Walsall defender got in front of Sam Todd and directed it downwards beyond Brian Maher. Damien Duff mercilessly trolled by rival fans over bizarre attempt to go incognito while serving ban And that was Drogheda in front five minutes before the break. It was no less than Doherty's team deserved. This was a major reaction to last week's disappointing display at Tallaght Stadium. Advertisement With Darragh Markey still injured, six-goal striker Warren Davis was playing in the No 10 role. He had one of the few opportunities in the opening half hour but it was a half chance at best. 1 Elicha Ahui of Drogheda United celebrates after opening the scoring in the 1-1 draw He side-footed wide when Mark Connolly's headed clearance fell kindly for him. Advertisement Derry's only real glimpse at goal came via a rapid breakaway. Gavin Whyte and Michael Duffy outnumbered Conor Kane on the counter. But the Drogs defender beat Whyte in the one-on-one and Duffy was left frustrated. Referee Kevin O'Sullivan showed three yellow cards inside the first 15 minutes. Derry's Adam O'Reilly and Robbie Benson were booked. And Thomas Oluwa joined them for leaving an arm in on Connolly. Advertisement Drogheda nearly got another. Ahui dispossessed Duffy deep in the Drogheda half and kept going. He beat Kevin Holt on the sideline and continued into the area before squaring for Oluwa. The forward set himself but shot wide. Minutes later, Oluwa saw a header from Kane's cross tipped over by Maher. LATE LATE SHOW A chance was bound to come Derry's way eventually and one fell to a player who has broken many a Drog heart over the years. Advertisement Patrick Hoban has ten league goals against United to his name but he could not add to it. In the 90th minute, another sub, Thomas, took aim with a speculative effort that took a wicked deflection off Brennan and deceived Luke Dennison. The 29-year-old midfielder wheeled away in celebration as Drogs' heads dropped in despair. SUN STAR MAN Conor Keeley (Drogheda) Advertisement DROGHEDA UTD: Dennison 6; Ahui 6, Keeley 6, Bolger 6; Lambe 6, Brennan 6, Heeney 6, Kane 6; Davis 6 (Bosakani 88, 6); James-Taylor 6 (Brady 75, 6), Oluwa 6. DERRY CITY: Maher 6; Cann 6, Connolly 6, Holt 6; Harkin 6 (Mullen 46, 6), O'Reilly 6, Benson 6, Todd 6; Whyte 6 (Thomas 68, 6), Boyce 6 (Hoban 73, 6), Duffy 6 (McMullan 68, 6). REFEREE: K O'Sullivan (Cork) 7.
