Substitute John Martin popped up with a stoppage time winner to save Dundalk's blushes as they claimed their first win in 44 days against 10-man Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park.
It looked as though Kevin Doherty’s side had earned themselves an unlikely point when goals from Dayle Rooney and Freddie Draper cancelled out first half strikes from Ryan O’Kane and Patrick Hoban for the hosts.
Both those goals for the Boynesiders came after they had influential midfielder Gary Deegan dismissed on 51 minutes for a second bookable offence.
Failure to beat their county rivals would have meant a worst run of form for Dundalk since 2012 but up popped Martin to scramble home in the 91st minute to ensure a first win for his side since they had beaten Drogheda Utd in the reverse fixture at Weavers Park on 16 March.
It was the visitors who started the brighter of the two sides and they almost hit the front on 19 minutes when Darragh Markey broke through one on one only to be denied by a superb stop from Nathan Shepperd.
Dundalk's first half chance would arrive three minutes later when Hoban headed down for Rayhann Tulloch inside the box but the on-loan West Brom winger couldn’t find the target.
Hoban would then turn provider for the opening goal on 23 minutes when he played a brilliant through ball for O’Kane to race onto with the teenager bursting past Conor Keeley and Evan Weir to slot past Colin McCabe.
Within five minutes it was 2-0 with Hoban volleying home his second of the season despite two Drogheda defenders on the line after McCabe could only parry clear a flick on from Johannes Yli-Kokko from Keith Ward’s pass.
The home side then went close again three minutes before the break when Robbie Benson’s cross from the left found Darragh Leahy in the box but his effort was partially blocked, allowing McCabe to gather with ease.
Drogheda’s task became all the more tougher when they were reduced to 10 men within six minutes of the restart with Deegan picking up a second yellow for a foul on Yli-Kokko having been booked in the first half for a trip on Connor Malley.
Despite that setback, the Boynesiders pulled a goal back on 54 minutes with Dayle Rooney scrambling the ball to the net after Hayden Muller failed to deal with Draper’s flick on.
Draper then levelled matters on 72 minutes when he dispossessed Muller 40 yards from goal before racing through to slot past Shepperd.
Dundalk had a chance to respond 10 minutes later when substitute Alfie Lewis picked out the run of Ward on the right but his effort dropped onto the roof of the net.
Ward would pass up an even better chance with five minutes to go when he was picked out unmarked in the box by Leahy’s cross but the 32-year-old could only head tamely at McCabe.
Ward would have a hand to play in the winning goal in stoppage time as his dangerous cross from the right broke kindly for Martin, who hammered home from close range for his 30th career goal to rescue a big three points for his side.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Darragh Leahy, Robbie Benson; Connor Malley, Johannes Yli-Kokko (John Martin 76); Ryan O’Kane (Alfie Lewis 69), Keith Ward (Paul Doyle 93), Rayhann Tulloch; Patrick Hoban.
Drogheda Utd: Colin McCabe; Elicha Ahui (Michael Leddy 92), Emmanuel Adegboyega, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir (Luke Heeney 25); Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan; Dylan Grimes, Darragh Markey, Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper (Adam Foley 89).
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
