Galway talisman David Hurley is up there with Eric Cantona and Matt Le Tissier when it comes to converting penalties and it was Drogheda's luck that they caught him on an off-night in Terryland with the visitors nabbing all three points late on.
With 25 minutes of a typically scrappy but feisty encounter between this pair to go, Hurley inexplicably missed from the spot, and Walsall loanee Jago Godden poured vinegar on the wound by stealing the points in injury time for a Drogs outfit that would have been glad to escape with one at the time.
It was a goal from a long throw – fittingly – that decided the game.
Galway have struggled generally since Moses Dyer left in the middle of the 2025 season and it was fellow Kiwi Godden who broke the hosts' hearts here. Conor Kane's delivery was held up by substitute Ryan Brennan who teed up Godden to slot beyond Evan Watts.
Veteran boss John Caulfield will be gutted as Galway were the better team; even with 35 matches to go this term, it feels like a damaging defeat – and goals may be a problem for the Tribesmen.
Drogheda will feel they will rarely play as badly as this and win in 2026.
The home side introduced four debutants and generally they looked at home in Terryland - Wasiri Williams, Gianfranco Facchineri, Arthur Parker and Lee Devitt were joined by local Francely Lomboto, who has plenty to prove after a poor spell with Glenavon.
Like the hosts, the Louth visitors had four debutants and one returning ex-player. Leo Burney, Ethan O'Brien (both recruits from America), Edwin Agbaje and Brandon Kavanagh made their Drogs debuts, with academy graduate Mark Doyle back for the visitors.
The ball and the ground barely got acquainted in the opening ten minutes, with Drogs keen to use Agbaje's long throws. And it was Agbaje who had the first chance, firing over after the ball broke from a Kavanagh free-kick nine minutes in.
Then Williams got back to deny Thomas Oluwa, who showed the pace on the break that enticed Caulfield to bring him to Galway in 2021.
Williams then connected with a rare right-footed cross from Killian Brouder at the other end, but his header did not trouble Luke Dennison, who also played previously for Galway.
Jimmy Keohane has been an excellent ally of Caulfield over the years and he curled a left-footed effort wide on 24 minutes as the hosts grew into the battle – and this was a battle.
On a heavy pitch, both teams were keen to find space in behind and embrace set-pieces – and two newcomers nearly combined to help the hosts go ahead at the start of the second quarter.
Drogs failed to clear at a set-piece and Facchineri headed in the direction of Williams, whose header struck the bar; Keohane pulled his shot wide when Drogs were scrambling to maintain parity.
Then Stephen Walsh went close on 28 minutes before Lomboto should have done better and squared a pass with United players crying out for the ball in the box on the half-hour mark.
Williams made a key block on Oluwa in the last meaningful chance of a first half that was both ugly and compelling 12 minutes before the interval.
Keohane was the best player on the pitch – undoubtedly the most influential – and whilst he may feel he should have done better early in the second half when curling wide with his left foot, he was the reason why United should have gone ahead on 65 minutes.
The player got to the ball before Andrew Quinn who made a silly challenge that was a penalty all night long; alas Hurley, who has an exceptional record from penalties, was wide to his left.
Drogs had gone a long time without creating anything before substitute Warren Davis might have made more of a back-post heading opportunity on 73 minutes. By now, Shane Farrell, Mark Doyle and Kavanagh had all been taken off, with Drogs boss Kevin Doherty thus acknowledging his side were struggling.
Parker, like stopper Evan Walsh on loan from Swansea City, impressed and he nearly made a dream league debut only for his shot with five minutes to go to be blocked for a corner after the wily Walsh had flicked on Aaron Bolger's low cross.
However, Drogheda have shown excellent resolve under Doherty and flooded the box from Kane's throw, with two substitutes key as Brennan set up Godden.
Devitt's shot was deflected wide at the death as the home side gave their all in pursuit of a point, which is the least they deserved.
Galway United: Evan Watts; Wasiri Williams, Killian Brouder, Gianfranco Facchineri, Arthur Parker, Lee Devitt; Aaron Bolger (Conor McCormack 90), Jimmy Keohane (Matty Wolfe 71), David Hurley; Francely Lomboto, Stephen Walsh (Kris Twardek 86).
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison; Edwin Agbaje, Leo Burney, Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn, Conor Kane; Ethan O'Brien, Shane Farrell (Jago Godden 63), Mark Doyle (Warren Davis 67); Brandon Kavanagh (Ryan Brennan 67), Thomas Oluwa.
Referee: Oliver Moran.
