Dundalk 2-2 Drogheda United

The first Louth derby of the Airtricity League season ended with a point apiece for Dundalk and Drogheda United after the Lilywhites came from two goals down to snatch a dramatic late draw.

The point represents Drogheda's first of the 2010 campaign but they will feel as though they should have headed south with all three after producing a disciplined performance.

Only when they went down to ten men, following the 62nd minute dismissal of Michael Daly, did Dundalk really get a foothold in the game.

Drogheda's plans were dealt a blow as early as the sixth minute. A sickening clash of heads between Dundalk's JJ Melligan and Drogheda duo Corey Treacy and Michael Daly ended with full-back Treacy being stretchered off with a nasty looking injury.

Dundalk, who claimed a last-minute win against Bray Wanderers in their opening game, looked disjointed all over the park and on this evidence it will take Ian Foster's new-look side some time to get to know each other.

They fell behind after just eight minutes. Brian King's cross from the right found John Flood unmarked. His header was brilliantly saved by Peter Cherrie from point-blank range but Glen Fitzpatrick was on hand to slide the ball home.

Another head injury saw Dundalk midfielder Alan Cawley replaced in the 16th minute by Tom Miller. And it was the former Rangers midfielder who was at the middle of the incident which led to the Drogs' second goal four minutes later.

Brendan McGill got to the byline, only to see his cross smack Miller's outstretched arm. Referee's assistant Marc Douglas had no hesitation in flagging for the infringement; Joe Kendrick making no mistake to beat Cherrie to the goalkeeper's right.

The home side offered little to suggest a way of getting back into things. Miller had their best sighting of goal when he reacted to a loose ball from a Wayne Hatswell free-kick but his sidefooted drive was blocked inadvertently by Neale Fenn.

Liam Burns then saw a goalbound header blocked on the line by Drogheda captain Alan McNally in the 39th minute. The visitors took a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.

Faz Kudozovic had the first chance of the second-half but his half-volley presented Paul Skinner with no difficulty. Then at the other end, Cherrie was fortunate that nobody was on the scene to pounce on his fumble from Kendrick's cross.

The Lilywhites were thrown a lifeline with two major incidents going their way within a minute of each other. Daly was dimissed for a second yellow card in the 62nd minute. The former Dundalk midfielder needlessly kicking the ball away after referee Damien Hancock had blown for a foul.

Seconds later Dundalk were back in the game. Fenn's cross from the right was blocked by Brian King but Douglas again waved his flag to signal for a penalty. The incident occurred in exactly the same area as Drogheda's in the first-half. The result was also similar, as captain Fenn beat Skinner low to his right.

With the home support urging them on, Dundalk pushed for an equaliser. It arrived from a former Drogheda player with 10 minutes to go. JJ Melligan's cross was headed clear, but Fenn latched onto it and drilled a 20-yard volley that was too hot to handle for Skinner and Kuduzovic was on hand to slot the ball home.

Sensing the opportunity of an unlikely three points, Dundalk poured forward. Wayne Hatswell's left-footed effort cannoned off the crossbar with nine minutes to go. Two minutes later the Dundalk player-coach did just enough to stop Jamie Duffy. From the resulting corner Jamie Harris was denied by Cherrie and the spoils were shared.

DUNDALK: 1 Peter Cherrie; 5 Garry Breen, 6 Liam Burns (captain), 3 Wayne Hatswell; 2 Shaun Kelly, 7 Stephen Maher, 8 Alan Cawley (4 Tom Miller, 16 mins), 14 JJ Melligan, 11 Ross Gaynor; 9 Faz Kudozovic, 10 Neale Fenn.

Substitutes not used: 12 Michael Synnott, 13 Nathan Murphy, 15 Ciaran McGuigan, 22 Matt Gregg.
Booked: Ross Gaynor, 19 mins; Faz Kudozovic, 34 mins; Neale Fenn, 90 mins.

DROGHEDA UNITED: 1 Paul Skinner; 2 Corey Treacy (Jamie Duffy 7), 5 Alan McNally, 15 Jamie Harris, 3 Joe Kendrick; 7 Brendan McGill, 16 Michael Daly, 14 Garreth O'Connor, 17 Brian King, 11 John Flood; 18 Glen Fitzpatrick (19 Ryan Brenna, 82 mins.).

Substitutes not used: 4 Damien Brennan, 12 Eoghan Osbourne, 23 Paul Murphy.
Booked: Michael Daly, 29 mins; Brendan McGill, 35 mins; Garreth O'Connor, 44 mins; Glen Fitzpatrick, 68 mins.
Sent-off: Michael Daly, 63 mins.

REFEREE: Damien Hancock.