By Marcus Cavaroli at United Park
Drogheda United 1-1 Limerick
Sean Thornton salvaged a deserved point for his home-town club with an 84th-minute strike as ten-man Drogheda denied Limerick their first win in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
After an evenly-contested first 30 minutes there was controversy when Drogheda’s Alan Byrne was controversially sent off for a last-man challenge on Paul O’Conor and Ian Turner netted the resulting penalty to put Limerick ahead.
Chances for both sides were at a premium after that, with Daryl Kavanagh having the best of the home side’s opportunities and Darragh Rainsford twice going close for the visitors.
But Limerick seemed content to hold on to what they had and they paid the price six minutes from time when Thornton fired home a free kick from 25 yards.
Drogheda then survived the last five minutes with only nine players as their goalscorer was forced off injured with all three substitutes used.
Drogheda were boosted by the return of key men Kavanagh and Michael Daly after illness and injury respectively and it was Kavanagh who had the game’s first chance, volleying over the bar from a Cathal Brady centre.
However, Limerick had a much clearer opportunity a minute later when a poor headed clearance by Alan Byrne fell invitingly for O’Conor who drove the ball over the bar from eight yards.
Kavanagh went close again after a great cross-field pass by Sean Brennan, but the home defence went to sleep again on 18 minutes when Robbie Williams was left unmarked from a Sean Russell free kick, only to head straight at Micheal Schlingermann.
The Drogheda keeper then went down smartly to his right to keep out a Dean Clarke drive as the game continued to flow from end to end.
The home side’s best chance of the first half arrived on 28 minutes when Brennan popped up in the six-yard area to head over from Brady’s pinpoint cross.
It proved a costly miss, because two minutes later Drogheda were a goal down and a man down in controversial circumstances.
Byrne and O’Conor tussled for the ball just inside the penalty area, O’Conor lost his footing and referee Ray Matthews showed a straight red card to the defender and pointed to the spot.
The Boynesiders were stunned by the decision, but the official was unmoved and Turner drove the penalty kick down the middle to give Limerick the lead.
Ironically, Drogheda seemed to play better with only 10 men coming up to half-time and Limerick keeper Conor O’Donnell made fine saves from Neil Yadolahi and Daly to maintain his side’s advantage.
Drogheda carried that momentum into the second period and Kavanagh should have levelled on 57 minutes when he arrived at speed to meet Brady’s cross but headed over the bar from close range.
Limerick eventually responded with two Darragh Rainsford efforts and one from Russell which grazed the post, but they were fortunate not to concede a penalty on 65 minutes when Kavanagh went down in the box following a challenge by Aidan Price.
Drogheda appealed vociferously for a penalty, but instead the striker went into the referee’s book for simulation.
After that, the Boynesiders were the better team and they got their reward when Brennan was fouled 25 yards out and Thornton stepped forward to beat O’Donnell and grab his first goal for his home-town team.
Drogheda United: Micheal Schlingermann; Michael Daly, Alan Byrne, Neil Yadolahi (Mark Hughes 55), Joe Gorman; Cathal Brady, Sean Thornton, Stephen Maher, Jason Marks (Lee Duffy 74); Sean Brennan (Carl Walshe 85); Daryl Kavanagh.
Subs not used: Lloyd Buckley, Shane Dunne, Tiarnan Mulvenna, Dylan Connolly.
Limerick: Conor O’Donnell; Shane Costelloe, Tony Whitehead, Aidan Price, Robbie Williams; Ian Turner, Jason Hughes (Vinny Faherty 88), Paul O’Conor, Sean Russell, Darragh Rainsford; Dean Clarke.
Subs not used: Val Feeney, Ross Mann, Kieran Hanlon, Paudie O’Connor, Conor Maguire, Tommy Holland.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Westmeath).
