Galway United produced a rousing second-half comeback to defeat Drogheda United 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to a Moses Dyer double.
League leaders Drogheda arrived in the west with only one defeat on the board, while the home outfit sat in fifth, just three points off the table-toppers.
As one would have predicted, it was a tight and hard-fought affair on Corribside.
In the early stages of proceedings, Galway United midfielder David Hurley hit an audacious attempt from kick-off which went narrowly over the crossbar, before the same man struck a free-kick routine just wide of Luke Dennison's post.
A few minutes later, in-form New Zealand striker Moses Dyer tested Dennison at his near post, while Drogheda had a half opening through a wayward Warren Davis header.
A third of the way into the first half, the Tribesmen had the first real clear-cut chance of the game when Cian Byrne looked as if he had an empty net in front of him, but Shane Farrell did just enough to stop the attempted header.
In the next play, Drogheda’s Thomas Oluwa got in behind the home defence and tested an on-rushing Brendan Clarke, before, with 25 minutes played, Conor Keeley could not direct a free header on target at the back post.
Just before the break, Dyer latched onto a breaking ball in the box, but Dennison was quick off his line to stop the sharp attacker, while Vincent Borden was denied by a brave block in the follow-up.
Shortly after, at the other end of the pitch, and in additional time, the away team took the lead thanks to a fine finish.
Drogheda’s Darragh Markey demonstrated composure and finesse outside the penalty area as he slotted the ball into the corner of the net to put Kevin Doherty’s side in front.In the opening stages of the second period, the two American Tribesmen, Patrick Hickey and Borden, linked well at the edge of the box, as the latter’s well-struck strike went wide of the post.
John Caulfield’s side pushed for the leveller, going close through Dyer as he got on the end of Stephen Walsh’s attempted overhead kick, but he was only able to cannon a volley off the crossbar from a few yards out.
Within two minutes, Dyer made up for the miss in fantastic fashion.Firstly, Galway’s firm fan favourite was quickest to react to Jeannot Esua’s cross to produce a powerful header past Dennison to bring the Tribesmen level in the 68th minute.
With 20 minutes to go, Walsh, who came off the bench to make his 300th league appearance for the club, linked up with his strike partner once again, and Dyer’s poacher-like instincts guided the ball beyond Dennison to send the home faithful into a frenzy.
Drogs substitute Douglas James-Taylor almost volleyed the away side back into the game, while Davis also went close just before the final whistle, but the Tribesmen defended admirably to earn the three points in front of their home fans.
Galway United: Clarke; Byrne, Slevin, Brouder, Cunningham (Buckley 37); Dyer, Hurley, Hickey, Borden (Walsh 60), Burns (Kerrigan 82); Esua
Drogheda United: Dennison; Kane (Cruise 74), Quinn (Bosakani 78), Markey (Heeney 74), Oluwa (James-Taylor 62); Farrell, Bolger, Brennan (Doyle 74), Keeley, Lambe; Davis
Referee: Rob Hennessy
