Drogheda United have held on to their Premier Division status following their 3-2 aggregate win over Galway United. Drogheda trailed Galway United 2-0 going into tonight's second leg of the promotion/relegation play-off final, but a 3-nil win at 02 Park tonight keeps Drogheda United in the Premier Division for another season.
The match was highly dramatic, with the winner being scored 15 minutes into extra time just three minutes after left sided midfielder Mark Quinless was sent off. Salvation for the Drogs came from the right hand side of the defence in the shape of Danny O'Connor who scored after in the 105th minute of the marathon two-leg 210 minute tie.
His side had already eroded the Galway United advantage in a fraught second half, the comeback beginning with a penalty converted by experienced striker Andy Myler. Drogheda's top scorer of last season goalscorer Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien brought the sides level after 68 minutes and neither side could breach the other's defence to secure the win in normal time.
Galway must have felt confident of victory after the influential Quinless was dismissed but they could find no way to press their numerical advantage against the packed Drogheda defence and the Connaught side were left to rue a missed oppurtunity on a dramatic night at O2 Park.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane and Brendan Cole
