Nathan Shepperd penalty save secures Louth Derby bragging rights for Dundalk

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

Drogheda United 0-1 Dundalk

Dundalk FC collected the Louth derby bragging rights last Thursday night at Weavers Park, as they overcame Drogheda United by a 1-0 scoreline in the SSE Airtricity League.

The Lilywhites rode their luck throughout the night, but two key moments ultimately decided the outcome of the game – the first being Connor Malley’s 65th-minute goal.

Drogheda were then handed a glorious opportunity to level from the penalty spot three minutes from time, but goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd brilliantly denied Freddie Draper.

A third win in four matches keeps Stephen O’Donnell’s team third in the table ahead of this week’s international break, but his counterpart Kevin Doherty must have been in disbelief at the fact his dominant side did not pick up at least a single point on the night.

Indeed, Drogheda really should have gone ahead in the first half, when Andy Boyle was dispossessed by Darragh Markey, who could only blaze over the top from close range.

That was after Dayle Rooney had two attempts for the hosts, the first of which was curled into Shepperd’s arms, before he fired one wide of the target from just outside the box.

Dundalk then failed to clear a Rooney corner from the right, which allowed Evan Weir to have a pop at goal, and his effort trickled ever so dangerously across the goalmouth.

The visitors registered their only shot of the first half a minute before the interval, when Johannes Yli-Kokko dragged a long-range shot straight into the arms of Colin McCabe.

Moments into the second half, Emmanuel Adegboyega, who swapped Dundalk for Drogheda in pre-season, was left unmarked inside the penalty area and headed straight into the hands of Shepperd after getting on the end of a cross from the right by Markey.

However, it was Dundalk who took the lead completely against the run of play on 65 minutes, with Boyle brilliantly getting in ahead of Dylan Grimes before feeding it out on the left to Rayhaan Tulloch, who drew in four Drogheda players and passed to Malley, unmarked as a result, and he made no mistake with a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Stunned by that concession, Drogheda went in search of an equaliser, and Rooney curled an excellent free-kick attempt inches wide of the outstretched Shepperd’s far post.

Drogheda were then awarded a penalty after Darragh Leahy tripped Grimes inside the area, but Draper’s spot-kick was brilliantly kept out by the outstanding Shepperd.

Completely demoralised by that miss, Drogheda didn’t really create anything of note after that, and it was actually Dundalk that almost made it 2-0 deep into stoppage-time, when Robbie Benson crashed an effort off the crossbar, via a Conor Keeley deflection.

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Drogheda United: Colin McCabe; Elicha Ahui (Michael Leddy 85), Emmanuel Adegboyega, Conor Keeley, Evan Weir; Gary Deegan; Dylan Grimes, Darragh Markey, Ryan Brennan, Dayle Rooney; Freddie Draper (Warren Davis 90+3)

Subs not used: Fiachra Pagel (gk), Jarlath Jones, Sean Brennan, Emre Topcu, Luke Heeney, Aaron McNally, Darragh Noone

Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Wasiri Williams, Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy; Greg Sloggett (Hayden Muller 90+3), Connor Malley; Johannes Yli-Kokko (Ryan O’Kane 58), Rayhaan Tulloch (Robbie Benson 82); Cameron Elliott (Alfie Lewis 58), Patrick Hoban (John Martin 76)

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mark Byrne (gk), Keith Ward, Anthony Moyo

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal)