Adam O'Reilly strikes to ensure Derry City win in Drogheda!

Drogheda United 0

Derry City 1

Adam O’Reilly scored his first goal for Derry City to earn his team a hard-fought victory at Drogheda United.

After a night of frustration at the Brandywell last Monday against Shamrock Rovers, it took just 12 minutes for Derry City to get off the mark at Weavers Park, with the opening goal coming after a promising start to the game from the visitors. Ciaran Coll’s pass deflected into the path of Sadou Diallo, who directed it into Jordan McEneff on the edge of the area and he in turn laid it off for O’Reilly to drill low beyond Colin McCabe from 20 yards.

O’Reilly came so close to making it a double just three minutes later when he got on the end of McEneff’s cross from the left wing, but his brilliant header flew just wide of the target with McCabe beaten.

Amidst growing Drogheda pressure, Derry could have doubled their lead when McEneff again drifted to the left and sent in a low ross which just eluded Michael Duffy but came to O’Reilly, but his effort was crucially blocked by Conor Keeley.

The home side were so unlucky not to level just two minutes before the break. Ryan Brennan flicked a pass in behind the City defence to put Draper in on goal, and the striker cleverly flicked it over the advancing Brian Maher only to see the ball come off the crossbar.

Drogheda United continued to pressurise Derry in the early stages of the second half and would have scored if Shane McEleney not intercepted to deny Draper a tap in from close range.

At the other end of the pitch, Duffy found himself in behind following a brilliant pass from his goalkeeper Maher, but he couldn’t bring the ball under control and in the end could only side-foot tamely wide with McCabe bearing down on him.

City at last tested McCabe just past the hour mark when Duffy’s corner was cleared outside the area where Diallo met it with a brilliant volley which the Drogheda goalkeeper had to push away at his near post.

Drogheda were always a threat and they should have levelled on 75 minutes, only for an incredible save from Maher to keep Derry City ahead. A cross into the area was perfect for an unmarked Draper who simply had to score with a close range header, but the ball somehow stayed out with Maher throwing his body at the ball to stop it on the line.

Six minutes of added time at the end of the game gave Drogheda United extra hope of forcing an equaliser, and they almost got it four minutes in when a corner to the near post was met by Draper, but he was denied by Maher again, the City goalkeeper rescuing his team right at the death of a tense encounter.

Teams

DROGHEDA UNITED: McCabe, Ahui (Heeney 20’), Keeley (Davis 75’), Adegboyega, Markey, Deegan, Draper, Grimes (Foley 62’), Rooney, Brennan, McNally.

DERRY CITY: Maher, Coll, McEleney, McJannet, Doherty; Diallo, O'Reilly, McEneff (Patching 64’) Graydon (O’Neill 74’), C Kavanagh (McGonigle 74’), Duffy (Boyce 89’).

REFEREE: Damien MacGraith (Dublin).