Bragging rights in county Louth belong to Dundalk, for now, as Stephen O'Donnell’s team stunned Drogheda United in the first Louth derby of the Premier Division season.
Conor Malley and Nathan Shepperd were the Louth derby heroes for Dundalk as they produced a smash-and-grab to break Drogheda hearts at Weavers Park.
The home side dominated from start to finish but two decisive moments in each penalty area decided the first derby clash of the season.
Malley’s 65th minute goal came totally against the run of play and when it seemed a late penalty would hand Drogheda a route back into the contest, and give them at least a point against their fierce rivals, Shepperd denied Freddie Draper from 12 yards.
Darragh Leahy had fouled Dylan Grimes and referee Paul McLaughlin rightly pointed to the spot.
Kevin Doherty will take no satisfaction from a daring display that amounted to no points, especially given the game’s status as one of the country’s most fiercely contested derbies.
United pressed from the front with an intensity befitting the occasion and Dundalk couldn’t live with them throughout the entire first half. The hosts peppered Shepperd’s goal with shots as Dayle Rooney took the reins. He accounted for three of those efforts while Darragh Markey shot over with the goal gaping.
Markey caught Andy Boyle in possession just inside the penalty area but Shepperd raced out of his goal to narrow the angle. The 25-year-old lost his composure and blazed over.
Finnish midfielder Yli-Kokko had Dundalk’s only shot of any description in the opening 45 minutes. But their next real attack led to the game’s winning goal.
Boyle won the ball on the left and fed Rayhaan Tulloch. The on-loan West Brom man advanced the ball into the area and found Malley, who’s curling shot beat Colin McCabe and nestled in the corner of the net. It was his second goal in Lilywhite.
Draper failed from the spot with just four minutes left of normal time, with Shepperd diving low to his left to deny the striker.
Players, officials and supporters in claret-and-blue will wonder long into the night and beyond how their team failed to take anything from a game in which they were the superior team throughout.
Dundalk gleefully took the points. It was all the more enjoyable at the expense of their near neighbours.
Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Elicha Ahui (Michael Leddy, 85), Emmanuel Adegboyega, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan; Dylan Grimes, Darragh Markey, Ryan Brennan, Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper (Warren Davis, 90+3).
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Wasiri Williams, Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy; Greg Sloggett (Hayden Muller, 90+3), Connor Malley; Johannes Yli-Kokko (Ryan O'Kane, 58), Rayhaan Tulloch (Robbie Benson, 82); CameronElliott (Alfie Lewis, 58), Patrick Hoban (John Martin, 76).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
