It was the proverbial game of two halves at United Park on Friday night as Galway United hung on for what could yet be a crucial point in their fight against relegation.
The visitors were good value for their half-time advantage following Jonathan Keane’s early strike, but the Boynesiders dominated a thrilling second half and in the end the Tribesmen were relieved to hear the full-time whistle.
Galway seemed to possess more hunger than the champions from the first whistle, and James O’Shea wasted a fourth-minute chance when he shot over the bar following a poor pass by Drogheda’s Graham Gartland.
But two minutes later the visitors did get their noses in front when Shaun Maher’s clearing header fell invitingly for Jonathan Keane and he sent a dipping 25 yard volley over keeper Jamie Ewings.
A mis-hit Fahrudin Kuduzovic shot and a wayward Shane Robinson free kick were all Drogheda had to offer by way of a response as Jeff Kenna’s team mixed their impressive workrate with some slick one-touch football.
Alan Keane and John Lester pulled the strings in the centre of the park for Galway, out-shining their Drogheda counterparts Robinson and Paul Keegan, while ever-willing runners O’Shea and John Russell kept the home defence on their toes.
Indeed, Russell almost ghosted in to double Galway’s advantage, but his rising shot from a difficult angle just cleared the Drogheda crossbar.
Former United Park favourite Gary Rogers was untroubled in the Galway goal, except when blocking Robinson’s driven cross from the right in the 33rd minute.
On the restart, Drogheda looked far more threatening. Zayed had the ball taken off his toes by Foley as he prepared to shoot, and Kudozovic sent a 25 yard shot wide shortly before he was substituted for Adam Hughes.
The equaliser finally arrived on 65 minutes when impressive right-back Brian Shelley broke from defence and played in Richie Baker whose near-post cross was converted by Zayed with a bullet header.
Lester shot wide for Galway after a blocked O’Shea effort bounced into his path, but Shelley nearly put Drogheda ahead when his shot with the outside of his right foot landed on the roof of the Galway net.
Ewings then produced heroics to tip over John Russell’s piledriver, before Zayed flicked Shelley’s through ball just wide at full stretch.
In the final moments Drogs skipper Robinson somehow failed to get a decisive touch to Keegan’s free kick, ensuring a share of the spoils.
Drogheda United: Ewings, Shelley, Maher, Gartland, Kendrick, Baker, Robinson, Keegan, Cahill, Zayed, Kudozovic. Sub: Hughes for Kudozovic (59min).
Galway United: Rogers, McCulloch, A Keane, Fitzgerald, McCulloch, J Keane, J Lester, Conneely, Russell, Jorgensen, O’Shea. Sub: Murphy for J Keane (64min).
Referee – Ian Stokes (Dublin).
