Desperate Drogs Snatch Late Goal To Beat Fingal

 
Drogheda United picked up only a 7th win of the season at the Morton Stadium this evening thanks to a 2-1 win over Sporting Fingal, in a game which saw 3 goals, 3 red cards and more importantly for Drogheda, 3 points they so badly needed for new coach Brian Donnelly.

Sporting Fingal manager Liam Buckley rang in the changes from the side that lost 3-2 to Portuguese outfit Maritimo last week. Infarct Buckley made 8 changes in total for this league game against depleted Drogheda United. Conan Byrne playing his 107th game on the trot was amongst those who kept their place in Fingal's starting team.

The opening stages were in one word, awful. Drogheda had the first chance through a free kick  after Colm James brought down Mick Daly 10 yards away from the box. The free was terrible as McMahon shot straight over the bar. Fingal themselves had a chance on 3 minutes, keeper Paul Skinner mis-kicked a Clarence, Conan Byrne took it off him, Byrne tried to shoot but the ball was taken off him and cleared well.

A very dull and boring opening period was sparked into life on 18 minutes. Eamon Zayed, Fingals leading scorer scored, after Eoghan Osbourne failed to clear a ball at the edge of the box, Zayed dispossessed him and shot past Paul Skinner. Assistant referee Martin Maloney failed to spot that Zayed was offside, but thats no surprise as no League of Ireland game is complete without a howler decision from a referee or linesman!

Peter McMahon had a number of chances to draw the drogs back level. On 24 minutes, he slid a ball down for John Flood to chase, McMahon worked himself into the box ready for the cross but his shot went well wide of the post. He made up for all his chances and misses on 39 minutes after he got his team level after Colm James tried to challenge John Flood but before he could make the challenge Flood had it away to McMahon who fired past Darren Quigley in goal.

Just before half time Sporting Fingal were reduced to 10 men. Keith Quinn fouled Alan McNally, it was quite a harsh sending off as the referee didn't realise he had already been booked  until after he gave him the yellow card, the referee had no other choice to produce the red card.

The first 10 minutes of the second half were equally as bad the the opening stages of the first, but on 59 minutes it was a case of shoulda, woulda and coulda as Mick Daly  put in a lovely ball for Glen Fitzpatrick who almost had the ball in the net but Quigley got a slight touch to keep it out and Conan Byrne fired ashot out of the box to clear a real chance that brought a glimmer of hope to the strong enough travelling support down.

It just wasnt looking like Drogheda's day, the post denied Fitzpatrick, but it came back to the hands of Quigley, but he must have thought the ball had gone in and he almost dropped it over the line but just centimeters from the line he managed to keep it in play.

Liam Buckley was clearly desperate for the 3 points so he took off Conan Byrne and Olie Cahil who clearly wernt going to get the winner for the home side. Former gypsie Glen Crowe who scored in the Europa League qualifying game last week made way for Cahil and Alan Kirby.

On 77 minutes the hope that one of Buckleys subs would score almost happened. Alan Kirby raced onto a ball from Glen Crowe, Kirby  took it himself into the box where Crowe was waiting but he decided to go himself but Paul Skinner had a comfortable save.

With about 10 minutes to go Drogheda themselves were reduced to 10 men after John Flood fouled Kevin Dawson right at the edge of the area, flood got his second yellow and it was 10 on 10. Alan Kirby took the free which was deflected wide and out for a corner. Before the corner was taken referee Derek Tomney was called over to the Drogheda dugout by his fourth official and a red card was shown to sub Damien Brennan for what could only be as a result of hurling abuse at the officials.

Just as the game was coming to an end on the 87th minute Drogheda scored, after a bit of messing about out side the box between Mick Daly and Glen Crowe, Alan Mc Nally  out of no where worked free with the ball and put it in the net to silence the Fingal fans, 2-1 Drogheda and this was looking like a vital 3 points for the Louth side who were second from bottom going into this game.

Right at the death it was last chance saloon for Fingal from  a corner from Alan Kirby which was headed to Williams who tried to controll it and as he went to shoot he kicked Mick Daly and the ref awarded the free to Drogheda and that was indeed the last play of the game 3 points Drogheda needed but still remain  second from bottom, Sporting Fingal who play Maritimo on Thursday in Dalymount Park stay 4th on 33 points and really needed to win to take some momentum into that game 2-1 the final score.

Sporting Fingal: D Quigley, C James, J Frost, S Williams, B Gannon, K Browne, C Byrne, K Quinn, E Zayed, K Dawson, O Cahil SUBS; L Fitzgerald, A Kirby, G Crowe, B Clarke, G O Brien

Drogheda United: P Skinner, C Treacy, A McNally, E McGill, D Meehan, J Flood, E Osbourne, M Daly, G Fitzpatrick, R Brennan, P McMahon SUBS; P Murphy, D Brennan, J Duffy, R McEntegert, K Ross

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.