Goals in each half from Ryan Brennan and Brian Gannon gave Drogheda a thoroughly deserved Airtricity Premier League win against 10-man Derry at Hunky Dorys Park.
Brennan struck after 22 minutes with a fine shot, and his brother Sean and Tiarnan Mulvenna went close to extending the lead before half-time.
After Barry Molloy had been sent off, Rory Patterson missed a gilt-edged chance on 88, and the Drogs immediately netted at the other end, Gannon converting Gavin Brennan’s cross.
After a quiet opening eight minutes, the visitors had the first chance when Dermot McCaffrey stooped to head wide from Ruaidhri Higgins’ free kick.
Two minutes later Rory Patterson’s 30-yard half-volley dipped comfortably over Gabriel Sava’s crossbar, before Drogheda’s first opening came from a set piece as Gavin Brennan’s long-range effort drifted wide.
The Boynesiders were working hard to close down space and forcing free kicks, and from one such Sean Brennan set piece, the ball was half-cleared to Brian Gannon whose volley was comfortably held by Ger Doherty in the Derry goal.
And on 22 minutes Drogheda made this period of supremacy count when Ryan Brennan latched onto a through-ball and lashed a left-footed effort past Doherty.
The visitors struggled to respond and Gannon had another goal-bound effort blocked by Patrick McEleney, before Doherty showed good hands to hold onto a Sean Brennan free from some 40 yards out.
Tiarnan Mulvenna was then denied by a last-ditch Barry Molloy tackle after a quick counter-attack from home side led by Ryan Brennan, and the scorer’s brother Sean wasted another decent chance after being put clear by Paul Crowley.
In reply, Patrick McEleney skied a 30-yard shot well over the bar, and their best effort didn’t come until first-half stoppage time when Stephen McLaughlin’s long-range volley dipped onto the roof of Sava’s net.
Not surprisingly, the Candystripes came out for the second half with more purpose and on 50 minutes centre-half Stewart Greacen rose highest in the box to divert Patrick McEleney’s free kick over the bar, with Sava posted absent.
But Drogheda almost doubled their lead soon after, Tiarnan Mulvenna diverting the ball narrowly wide at the near post after a great one-two between brothers Gavin and Sean Brennan.
Then Sean Brennan latched onto Gavin’s square pass and curled just over the junction of post and crossbar.
Derry had decent claims for a penalty waved away when Simon Madden’s cross struck the hand of Gavin Brennan, and after that it was one-way traffic towards the visitors’ goal.
Molloy got his marching orders in the 75th minute for a second bookable offence, and Drogheda pressed home their advantage on 89 when Brian Gannon arrived at the far post to shoot past Doherty from Gavin Brennan’s cross.
Drogheda United: Sava; Quigley, McNally, Prendergast, Grimes; Gannon, Crowley, R Brennan, G Brennan; S Brennan, Mulvenna.
Subs: D O’Brien for Mulvenna (82min), Breen for S Brennan (86min).
Derry City: Doherty; Madden, Greacen, McBride, McCaffrey; P McEleney, Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin; Farren, Patterson.
Subs: S McEleney for McBride (25min), Deery for P McEleney (74min), Morrison for Higgins (74min).
Referee: G Kelly.
