Sport

Drogheda dent Derry's aspirations

Derry City 0 Drogheda United 0:  Drogheda United hammered a major dent into Derry City's chances of competing with Shelbourne…

Sat Oct 21 2006 - 01:00

Derry City 0 Drogheda United 0: Drogheda United hammered a major dent into Derry City's chances of competing with Shelbourne for the Premier Division title. Travelling to the Brandywell for the second time in as many weeks, the Co Louth side have now taken four points from a possible six following last night's stalemate.

And while the Foyleside club still hold a match in hand over Shelbourne, much will depend on next Tuesday night's clash at the northern venue between the top two.

While Derry clearly dominated the second half last night, the controversial dismissal of striker Kevin McHugh certainly didn't help their cause. The referee, signalled by one of his assistants in the 73rd minute, immediately flashed a red card at the Donegal man for what could only have been an off-the-ball altercation.

The best chance of the opening half fell to Drogheda midfielder Gavin Whelan, who was sent clear by Declan O'Brien but Derry keeper, David Forde, came to the rescue when saving with his legs in the 27th minute.

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The home side opened brightly after the break when Deery forced Drogheda keeper Dan Connor to dive full stretch across the face of his goal to turn a low shot around his post. And they went even closer to breaking the deadlock in the 64th minute when Farren's cross was headed onto the post by McHugh as the 'Candystripes' continued to push forward.

Gareth McGlynn really should have broken the deadlock in the 69th minute but he blasted the ball into the side-netting when well-placed. With McHugh dismissed in the 73rd minute, Drogheda had a great chance to open the scoring when Declan O'Brien ghosted in on the blind side of the home defence but his angled shot was tame and Forde gathered the ball with ease.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan; McGlynn, Deery, Martyn (McCourt, 71 mins), O'Flynn (Holmes, 50 mins); McHugh, Farren (Brown, 87 mins).

DROGHEDA UNITED: Connor; Shelley, Gartland, Gavin, Gray; Whelan (Lynch, 82 mins), Robinson, Keegan, Barrett (Webb, 22 mins); Fitzpatrick (Ristilla, 92 mins), O'Brien.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).