Droghedad United 2 Dublin City 1: A penalty in the final minute of the match, which was converted by Declan O'Brien for his second goal of the evening, saw Drogheda go back to the top of the Premier Division table.
Following a scoreless opening half, O'Brien struck for the lead for United just after the hour mark. When Dublin City deservedly levelled eight minutes from time, however, it looked as if Drogheda's hopes of the top spot had all but disappeared. But that late spot-kick saved the day for the Co Louth side.
The opening quarter was pretty even with Alan Reilly and O'Brien going close for Drogheda and Robbie Farrell twice threatening the home goal for City.
With 13 minutes gone, O'Brien's shot was well saved by goalkeeper Barry Ryan who, a couple of minutes later, was again called into action as he dived bravely at the feet of the same Drogheda player.
The best chance of the half arrived with 23 minutes gone when O'Brien raced away down the right and crossed for Tony Bird , who only just failed to get a touch on the ball. Alan Reilly then cracked a free from 30 metres into the visitors' wall.
As the half drew to a close, Dublin City created some good chances when Robbie Farrell failed to connect with a Shaun Byrne cross. Then a Byrne shot was charged down by defender Danny O'Connor and Gary O'Neill saw his 12-metre strike well saved by goalkeeper Gary Rogers.
Just before the half-time whistle Barry Molloy turned his marker only to see his shot from the edge of the box sail over the City bar.
The opening stages of the second half were dull before, on 61 minutes, Molloy split the City defence with a pass which found O'Brien who knocked the ball to the net off Ryan.
The Dublin side almost levelled four minutes later when Mark Kenny's free came off the head of Molloy but Rogers pulled off a spectacular save.
Rogers was called into action twice more before Drogheda should have sealed the point with quarter of an hour to go.
Danny O'Connor's long punt from defence found Andy Myler behind the visitors' back line, he then lifted the ball over Ryan but failed to keep his shot on target.
City drew level with 81 minutes gone when substitute Tony O'Connor made an immediate impact as he raced down the right to cross for Byrne to knock the ball to the Drogheda net.
With time virtually up, Myler was taken down in the box by Grant Cooper and referee Pat Whelan pointed immediately to the spot. O'Brien held his nerve superbly to ensure the win for United.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, Flanagan, Sandvliet, Lynch, O'Connor, Reilly (McClare, 63 mins), Whelan, Molloy, O'Brien (Rooney, 90), Bird (Myler, 56), Cronin.
DUBLIN CITY: Ryan, Henry, Rowland, Palmer, Cooper, Friel, Farrell (O'Connor, 80 mins), Byrne, O'Neill, Kenny, Rundle.
Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin)
