A second-half brace from Warren Davis turned the tide as Drogheda United overturned a two-goal deficit to a 4-3 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
The forward scored between strikes from Edwin Agbaje and Conor Keeley's spectacular winner as Kevin Doherty’s side pulled off a remarkable comeback.
First-half goals from Seán Boyd, on his first start following injury, and Paddy Barrett saw Shelbourne take a convincing and deserved lead into the break.
But Agbaje pulled a goal back early in the second before Davis’ double either side of the hour turned the game on its head.
Harry Wood’s 80th-minute penalty looked to have salvaged a share if the spoils for the Drumcondra side, but Keeley put the icing on the Drogheda cake four minutes from time as he stunned Wessel Speel in the Shelbourne goal with a brilliantly taken effort.
The hosts started the game in fast fashion and Wood’s strike from distance narrowly cleared the Drogheda post inside three minutes.
Drogheda countered and former Shamrock Rovers striker Thomas Oluwa went close as his shot from just inside the box forced Speel into action.
Jago Godden’s low drive from 20 yards just evaded the post as Kevin Doherty’s side looked to stamp their authority on the game.
John Martin looked to have given the home side the lead moments later as he beat Fynn Talley, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside call.
Shels did deservedly hit the front midway through the first half as Boyd was played in down the right by Wood and hammered the ball low into the corner of the net
Wood had a chance to double the lead shortly after but his effort was well smothered by Talley, before Davis saw his effort blocked by Kameron Ledwidge after good work from Oluwa.
Talley was again called into action to superbly tip away Republic of Ireland under-21 international Jack Henry-Francis’ effort and again from Wood moments later.
Drogheda appeared primed to go in at the break only one goal in arrears, but Wood’s corner fell perfectly for Barrett to head home.
The visitors emerged from the break a changed team and pulled a goal back early on as full-back Agbaje got on the end of a cross from the right to nod home.
Wood went within millimetres of restoring the two-goal lead as his free-kick grazed the edge of the post, and it was to prove costly as Drogs got back on terms.
A cross from the right found an unmarked Davis and the forward made no mistake as he turned the ball home to level the tie on the night.
And the picture became better for the away side as Oluwa’s cross from the left was deflected into the path of Davis and he had time and space to pick out the bottom corner.
Drogheda looked set to see the game out, but Wood was felled in the box by James Bolger and stepped up to place his spot kick in the bottom right-hand corner past Talley.
That did not prove to be the game’s final action, however, as Keeley stepped up to the plate and seal an unlikely three points for the Boynesiders.
Shelbourne: Wessel Speel; Kameron Ledwidge, Sam Bone (Seán Gannon 88), Paddy Barrett, Evan Caffrey (Ali Coote 88); JJ Lunney, Jack Henry-Francis (Kerr McIroy 72), Will Jarvis (Maill Lundgren 72); Harry Wood, Seán Boyd, John Martin (Rodrigo Freitas 61).
Drogheda United: Fynn Talley; Edwin Agbaje, Andrew Quinn (James Bolger 46), Conor Keeley, Conor Kane; Jago Godden (Shane Farrell 35), Brandon Kavanagh (Kieran Cruise 90+3), Ryan Brennan; Warren Davis, Thomas Oluwa, Fuhad Kareem (Mark Doyle 58).
Referee: Marc Lynch.
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