Drogheda United's Dare Kareem had the majority of the Sullivan & Lambe Park crowd forgetting all about one departed hero as the debutant scored the winner to beat Galway United.
Supporters have been left reeling with Douglas James-Taylor’s departure to Bohemians and with Warren Davis nursing a injury, Kareem stepped into the breach and duly delivered for his team.
The 19-year-old was brought into the club in the off-season, predominantly as an Under 20s player, but injury problems for Kevin Doherty has meant he has had plenty of involvement with the first team.
But with United’s major attackers - Josh Thomas is also injured – unavailable, this was his first real opportunity to make a mark since his arrival from St Patrick’s Athletic. His 49th minute winner is Drogheda’s second home win since their European expulsion.
Three points against the Tribesmen – Doherty had never beaten John Caulfield as a manager before Friday night – could go a long way towards securing European football in 2026.
Galway themselves were missing major players who have been so important to their recent successes. Moses Dyer has left for Cambodia while Patrick Hickey was missing once again.
Stephen Walsh, the veteran striker, has benefitted in the last couple of games and is once again in favour, as far as the starting XI goes. He teed up Jeannot Esua for a shot which the Cameroonian made a mess of.
Walsh himself had two first half shots – one blocked and one off-target – while recent arrival Malcolm Shaw had an effort ruled out for offside in the early stages.
Galway were dominant but unable to transfer that to the scoreboard. It was a failure they were left to rue. Drogheda had offered virtually nothing as an attacking threat in the first half but that soon changed.
By the 49th minute, they were ahead.
Owen Lambe’s long throw was not cleared sufficiently and Kareem’s outstretched leg hooked the ball into the net. It was an instinctive finish from the centre-forward and a demonstration of what his manager felt he might bring to proceedings.
Galway supporters might have felt that would light a fire under Caulfield’s side to find an equaliser. It didn’t however, as the hosts outperformed them after the break. The away side hardly had a shot on goal in response.
For Drogheda, victory was a fine riposte to last week’s drubbing in Derry and keeps them in European contention. On a memorable night, the home fans even have a new hero.
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Andrew Quinn (James Bolger, 70), Conor Keeley, Aaron Harper-Bailey; Owen Lambe, Ryan Brennan (Shane Farrell, 75), Luke Heeney, Conor Kane; Darragh Shane Farrell; Thomas Oluwa, Dare Kareem.
Galway United: Evan Watts; Garry Buckley (Killian Brouder, 58), Greg Cunningham (Colm Horgan, 90+4), Rob Slevin, Jeannot Esua, Vincent Borden (Aaron Bolger, 72), Denis Hurley (Axel Piesold 58), Bobby Burns; Edward McCarthy; Stephen Walsh, Malcolm Shaw (Cillian Tollett, 58).
Referee: Damien MacGraith
